THE GOLD SHEET NBA
TORONTO 93 - Detroit 91—Realize Detroit in extremely positive upswing,
but same can be said for Toronto, which has covered 7 of last 9 (although
Raptors admittedly just 2-9 SU last 11). Still, scheduling indicates a Toronto
win-and-cover, as this is Raptors’ only game in an 11-day window, and they
catch Detroit coming off a date in Cleveland last night. And Toronto should have
a bad taste left over from humiliating loss to league-worst Charlotte at the Air
Canada Centre on Friday night. With 5 days off to mull over that poor defensive
effort, expect Raptor HC Dwane Casey to get a much better showing from his
team. However, Pistons have been winning games SU, while Toronto has been
recording recent covers through the backdoor as a dog. Detroit won both here
SU last season and is 7-4 against the number this year when unrested, so not
in love with laying many with Raptors. 10-Tor +2 120-116 (203), Det +5' 115-93
(207), Det +5' 101-95 (207), DET -4' 107-93 (207)
OKLAHOMA CITY 100 - Boston 85—Slumping Boston has dropped 5 of last
6 SU and is just 3-9 vs. the number last 12 prior to visiting Dallas on Monday.
OKC just 2-3 in last 5 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena prior to facing New
Orleans Monday, but have to be impressed by OT non-cover against Denver, as
Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 91 pts., while
power forward Serge Ibaka recorded an unusual triple-double with 14 pts., 15
boards and 11 blocked shots. Boston might be without PF Kevin Garnett, who
missed time for personal reasons and injuries recently, and PG Rajon Rondo
has been suspended two games for throwing a ball at the ref on Sunday (you
don’t mess with the refs like that and get away with it in this league). Backup
forward Brandon Bass is already out with a knee injury. The Thunder are 23-16
laying more than 6 points at home over the last 1+ seasons. 11-Okc -2' 97-88
(187); 10-Bos +2 92-83 (197), Okc +9 89-84 (197) CABLE TV—ESPN
CLEVELAND 89 - New Orleans 88—New Orleans is playing its 3rd game in
as many nights in this one, and Hornet HC Monty Williams will need to use his
depth to deal with the schedule. With starting C Emeka Okafor & F Carl Landry
out with knee injuries, and PG Jarrett Jack limited (also with a knee injury), C
Chris Kaman (17 ppg, 10.4 rpg in February), F Trevor Ariza (16 ppg last 7
games) and PG Greivis Vasquez (13 ppg, 8.2 assists as a starter) have stepped
up. Cleveland played last night as well, and the Cavs are just 4-11 as Quicken
Loans Arena chalk in the post-LeBron era. Cleveland ranks behind New
Orleans in defensive efficiency (Hornets held last 5 foes to just 88 ppg), and
Cavs haven’t covered last 4 facing “C” teams. 10-NO -9 108-101 (193), No -5
96-81 (194)
Indiana 98 - CHARLOTTE 84—Last Sunday, Indiana caught Charlotte
coming off a satisfying SU win at Toronto (a win that snapped the Bobcats’ 16-
game losing streak) and Pacers won in a 108-73 romp. But Charlotte has been
more competitive of late, a result of the return to action first of F Corey Maggette
and then PG D.J. Augustin. There’s a chance Charlotte’s leading scorer, G
Gerald Henderson (15 ppg), will be ready to return for this game, which would
be a relief to HC Paul Silas, who’s been forced to use 13 different starting
lineups this year. Still, the Pacers have beaten Charlotte by an average of 23
ppg in covering last 3, including both meetings this season. Indiana has
covered 3 of last 4 trips to Time Warner Cable Arena, and Bobcats, who’re 2-7
vs. the number last 9 at home, don’t have a lot of offensive punch even with
Henderson healthy. Realize this is Charlotte’s only game until after the All-Star
break, but don’t like Bobcats’ home dog mark. "Totals" note: Indiana “under”
last 4 prior to hosting New Orleans last night and Charlotte “under” 11-5-1 last
17. 11-IND -10 99-77 (190), IND -10’108-73 (190); 10-Ind +4' 104-101 (196),
IND -6' 100-92 (193), IND -4' 104-103 (195), Ind +1' 111-88 (192)
WASHINGTON 97 - Sacramento 91—Washington has dropped last 5
against the number at home, although, to be fair, the Wizards faced only one
bad team in that streak. Sacto is coming off a game in Miami last night, and
Kings are just 7-13 against the points in 2nd night of back-to-back games over
the last 1+ seasons. Sacto’s resurgence under HC Keith Smart has cooled, as
the Kings have dropped 5 in a row SU through Monday after winning 4 of the
previous 5 behind strong play of C DeMarcus Cousins. Wizard backcourt of
John Wall & Nick Young have combined for 39 ppg over the last 10 games, and
those two should be able to trade baskets (or better) vs. prolific King backcourt
of Marcus Thornton & Tyreke Evans. Washington C JaVale McGee (9 rpg, 2nd
in the league at 2.7 blocks this season) should give Cousins some problems
(recent King spread losses have come against teams with strong pivot
play...Detroit’s Monroe, NY’s Chandler & Suns’ Gortat). 10-SAC -4' 116-91
DALLAS 93 - LA Lakers 81—First chance for Dallas to host Lakers at
AmericanAirlines Center since ending Phil Jackson’s career with a resounding
36-point romp in final game of Western semi sweep last spring. Dynamics have
changed somewhat since (Lamar Odom, for example, now wears a Mavs
uniform), but not sure they have improved any for Lake Show, which continues
to perform in a back-and-forth manner for first-year HC Mike “Al Roker” Brown,
whose new offense remains a tough fit for all save Kobe. And storm clouds
could be forming above LA, as Kobe (not one to sit by quietly when things begin
to unravel) has called out management for letting Pau Gasol flap in the wind
regarding his future with the team. As long as Dirk Nowitzki’s knee is okay,
expect Rick “Jim Carrey” Carlisle’s Dallas squad to avenge ugly 73-70 loss at
Staples Center on Jan. 16 when big Dirk (who scored 21) was the only Mav to
score more than 10 points. Note Lakers only 4-12 vs. line as visitor after
Sunday’s loss at Phoenix. 11-LA -3' 73-70 (182); 10-DAL +3 109-100 (188), La
-1 96-91 (194), LA -6' 110-82 (191), Dal +6 96-94 (189), Dal +7 93-81 (187), DAL
-2 98-92 (187), DAL -2 122-86 (188) CABLE TV—ESPN
LA CLIPPERS 100 - Denver 98—These two split a pair of interesting
decisions within a 4-day span Jan. 29-Feb. 2, with the road dog winning on both
occasions. That included Denver’s lopsided 112-91 thumping of Clips at
Staples Center in the return match after losing a bitter 4-point verdict at Pepsi
Center. Nuggets hit 12 of 21 from beyond arc in that big win at Staples, although
the main cog that night, F Danilo Gallinari (who was 5 for 5 from tripleville!), is
currently sidelined. And now Nene’s status is up in the air after re-aggravating
a calf strain, George Karl, however, has welcomed back versatile F Timofey
Mozgov to the lineup from an ankle injury, and spirited effort on Sunday at Ok
City suggests Nuggets still to be reckoned with despite their 3-10 SU mark last
13 prior to facing T-wolves on Monday night. 11-La +6 109-105 (206), Den +1
112-91 (207); 10-DEN -10' 111-104 (206), DEN -9 109-104 (213), LA +3 106-93
Orlando 97 - NEW JERSEY 88—New Jersey displayed a brief spark in last
Saturday’s win over the Derrick Rose-less Bulls, but losing 24 hours later to
Bucks sunk Nets to 1-9 SU mark their last ten prior to Monday’s showdown vs.
nearby rival Knicks. Avery Johnson’s lineup still depleted with various injuries,
though Nets have welcomed back C Brook Lopez to active duty after he was
sidelined since beginning of season with foot problems. A healthy Lopez could
come in handy vs. Dwight Howard, but hard-pressed to find other reasons to
support N.J. (also just 2-7 vs. line last 9 thru Feb. 19) against Magic squad that
had won and covered four in a row before running into revenge-minded Miami
on Sunday. Orlando has also now won 14 of last 16 vs. Nets after 94-78 win at
Amway Center back on Dec. 29, and Howard might be ready to put on a show
in front of the fans who dream of him playing in front of them next season (expect
lots of “We want Dwight!” from Pru Center audience). 11-ORL -11' 94-78 (182);
10-ORL -16' 105-90 (195), Orl -7' 91-90 (190), Orl -6 104-88 (191), ORL -13 95-
MINNESOTA 103 - Utah 92—Chance for payback for Rick Adelman’s
Minnesota bunch that lost by 10 at Salt Lake City back on Jan. 21. We’ll bet,
however, that Kevin Love is a lot more effective in rematch after enduring one
of his worst nights of the season (just 5 of 21 from floor) in that earlier 108-98
defeat. Opportunity for T-wolves’ revenge is exacerbated by the fact that Utah
plays so poorly on the road (only 3-10 SU and 4-9 vs. line), and Jazz could be
compromised if Raja Bell’s recent re-aggravation of the right abductor strain
that kept him sidelined in recent weeks is as serious as it appeared last Sunday
at Houston. 11-UTAH -7 108-98 (191); 10-Utah -6 112-107 (208), UTAH -7 108-
100 (214), MIN -2 122-101 (207), UTAH -6 119-104 (209)
PHOENIX 104 - Golden St. 95—Quick revenge opportunity for Phoenix after
losing by 6 last Monday at Oakland. That merely held serve at home for
Warriors in series in which the home edge has been palpable, especially for
Suns, who won and covered handily vs. Golden State at US Airways Center
back on Jan. 2 and also won and covered both home meetings by double-digit
margins vs. Warriors last season. Sources say everything on the line for Alvin
Gentry’s team in the next couple of weeks with an extended home stretch on the
schedule in which 12 of 14 games will be played in Phoenix; if Suns don’t make
a move in standings soon, roster (and Gentry’s status) will be subject to
disassembling at the trade deadline. Early returns, however, were positive after
Sunday’s easy home win over the Lakers, and we’ll shade the home-oriented
series trends. 11-PHO -4' 102-91 (193), GS -3 102-96 (204); 10-Pho +2' 107-
101 (228), Pho +5 104-92 (220), PHO -6 112-88 (218), PHO -5' 108-97 (217)