Sports Picks: New Orleans Hornets @ Los Angeles Lakers

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Apr 192011

Sports Picks action on Wednesday features the New Orleans Hornets aiming for 2-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers when the teams hook up for Game 2 of their Western Conference NBA Playoffs series at the Staples Center (10:30 pm ET, TNT).

Basketball Odds have the Lakers as an 11.5-point favorite and the over/under total at 187.5.

New Orleans took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series when it upset the Lakers 109-100 in Game 1 on Sunday.

New Orleans (46-36 SU, 39-40-3 ATS) is the No. 7 seed in the conference. Los Angeles (57-25 SU, 38-44 ATS) is the No. 2 seed.

The Lakers are 7-3 SU and 4-6 ATS in the head-to-head series over the past 10 meetings. Los Angeles failed to cover as an 11-point home favorite in Game 1. The score went over the total of 184.5, as has the total in eight of the past 10 meetings.

Lakers’ head coach Phil Jackson made sure his team knew what lost them the game on Sunday, and that was the dominance of the Hornets’ Chris Paul. Jackson spent two hours after practice on Monday reviewing the game on video, pointing out how Paul was able to pile up 33 points to go along with 14 assists and seven rebounds in Game 1.

On the injury front, Hornets center Aaron Gray is listed as day-to-day with a sprained ankle. The Lakers are expected to have guard Steve Blake, who has been out with chicken pox, back in the lineup.

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Basketball Picks: Atlanta Hawks @ Orlando Magic

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Apr 182011

The Orlando Magic will try to even their NBA Playoffs series with the Atlanta Hawks when the Southeast division rivals clash in Game 2 of their first-round Eastern Conference series on Tuesday at the Amway Center (7:30 pm ET, NBA TV).

Basketball Picks and NBA Betting Odds have the Magic as an 8.5-point favorite and the over/under total at 183.

As many predicted might happen, the Hawks upset the Magic in the opener on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Atlanta won 103-93 and cashed as a 9-point road underdog. The score went over the total of 180.5.

It wasn’t a shocking result, as the Magic went 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS in the season series this year.

Over the past 10 head-to-head, both are 5-5 straight and Atlanta has a slight edge against the spread at 6-4 ATS. There is a strong under trend with the under hitting in six of the past seven and eight of the past 10.

The only surprise was the result went against the teams’ performances down the stretch, as the Hawks had lost six straight to end the regular season, and the Magic had won four of its last five regular season games.

Dwight Howard had a playoff career-best 46 points as well as 19 rebounds for Orlando. Joe Johnson had 25 points and Jamal Crawford scored 23 for Atlanta and.

Atlanta went 44-38 SU and 37-45 ATS this past season, ending up as the 5th seed in the East. Orlando was 52-30 SU and 34-46-2 ATS, the No. 4 seed.

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NBA Picks: Miami Heat host Philadelphia 76ers in NBA Playoffs

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Apr 172011

The Miami Heat will be aiming for a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference series when they entertain the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Playoffs Monday at the American Airlines Arena (7 pm ET, TNT).

NBA Picks and NBA Odds have the Heat as a 9.5-point favorite and the over/under total at 190.

Philadelphia (41-41 SU, 46-35-1 ATS) was all over the Heat in Game of their first-round series Saturday, jumping out to a 31-19 lead after the first quarter. Miami (58-24 SU, 39-42-1 ATS) countered in the second frame, outscoring the 76ers 35-18 to take a 54-49 lead at the half.

The Heat went to win 97-89 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Miami failed to cash as a 10.5-point home favorite and the score stayed under the total of 190. Miami is 9-1 SU but just 5-5 ATS in the past 10 meetings. Miami swept the season series 4-0 SU and each team covered the spread twice.

There was a lot of talk heading into the game about whether Miami’s Big 3 would be able to handle the enormous amount of pressure they face as NBA Championship favorites. In the end, it was Dwyane Wade who secured the win for the Heat, scoring five of his 17 points in the final 1:34 as the Heat held off a furious Philadelphia comeback attempt.

Chris Bosh had 25 points and 12 rebounds and LeBron James had 21 points and 14 rebounds.

The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Thursday.

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Sports Picks: New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers open NBA Playoffs series on ABC

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Apr 162011

The Los Angeles Lakers start their defense of their NBA title when they host the New Orleans Hornets in Game 1 of their Western Conference NBA Playoffs series at the Staples Center on Sunday (3:30 pm ET, ABC).

Sports Picks and NBA Betting have the Lakers as a 10-point, -700 moneyline favorite. The over/under total is 182.5.

The Lakers have dominated the recent head-to-head series, going 8-2 SU (although just 5-5 ATS) in the past 10 meetings, and they swept the season series (4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS). The teams last squared off March 27, a 102-84 Lakers win. LA covered as a 9-point home favorite and the score was under the total of 189.

The Hornets struggled as they neared the end of the regular season, losing three straight to end the season.

Los Angeles also struggled down the stretch, losing five in a row before winning its last two.

The Hornets (46-36 SU, 39-40-3 ATS) had an up-and-down season, jumping out of the gate with eight straight wins. But New Orleans also had multiple losing streaks throughout the season, as well as a 10-game winning streak in January.

The Lakers (57-25 SU, 38-44 ATS) had an almost identical season in terms on consistency. They also started the season with an eight-game winning streak, and also went on multiple winning and losing streaks all season long. The team’s inconsistency was capsulated by a season-high 9-game win streak March to April 1 that was immediately followed by a season-high five game losing streak April 3-10.

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Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks open NBA Playoffs series on ESPN

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Apr 152011

The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Dallas Mavericks to open their best-of-seven first round Western conference NBA Playoffs series on Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas (9:35 pm ET, ESPN).

NBA Odds and NBA Picks have the Mavericks as a -220 moneyline, 5-point favorite and the over/under total at 186.

This has been an up and down season for the Mavericks, which is a strange thing to say about a team that won more than 50 games and finished as the No. 3 seed, and very close to being the No. 2 seed, in the highly competitive Western Conference.

At certain points during the season, the Mavs were one of the most dominating teams in the NBA – like at the beginning of the season, for example. Dallas stormed out of the gate to a 24-5 SU record, keeping them almost even with the red-hot San Antonio Spurs.

The Mavs cooled off from there, going 33-20 SU the rest of the season, but they finished strong when it counted, going 4-0 SU and ATS in last four games of the regular season.

Portland made the playoffs despite a slew of injuries this season and finished 6th in the Western Conference with a 48-34 SU and 43-35-4 SU record.

The teams split the four-game season series, and have also split the past 10 at 5-5 SU. Portland has a slight edge against the spread at 6-4 ATS. The Trail Blazers won the last meeting 104-96 on April 3, cashing as a 4.5-point home favorite.

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NBA Playoffs get started with Chicago Bulls hosting Indiana Pacers

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Apr 142011

The NBA Playoffs tip off this weekend and leading off the first of eight conference quarterfinal series is the No. 1 overall seed Chicago Bulls hosting the Indiana Pacers at the United Center on Saturday (1 pm ET, ESPN).

NBA Odds and Basketball Picks have the Bulls as an 11-point favorite with the over/under total at 188.  

Chicago (62-20 SU, 50-31-1 ATS) passed the San Antonio Spurs as the top team in the league on the last day of the season, as the Bulls won their season finale and the Spurs dropped theirs.

Head-to-head, Chicago is 7-3 SU and ATS. But Indiana (37-45 SU, 37-42-3 ATS) won the most recent meeting, beating the Bulls 115-108 on March 18 and cashing as a 4.5-point home underdog.

Moving to Sunday, the New Orleans Hornets face the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of their Western Conference first round series at the Staples Center (3:30 pm ET, ABC).

NBA Betting Odds have the Lakers as a 10-point favorite and the total at 183.5.

The Hornets finished at 46-36 SU and 39-40-3 ATS, seventh in the Western Conference. Los Angeles finished second with a record of 57-25 SU and 38-44 ATS.

Head-to-head, the Lakers are 8-2 straight up and 5-5 against the point spread in the past 10 meetings, and swept the season series, going 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS.

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San Diego Padres, Houston Astros open four-game set Thursday

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Apr 132011

Two basement-dwelling teams open a four-game series Thursday when the San Diego Padres and the Houston Astros meet at Minute Maid Park.

The Padres (4-6 SU) finished 90-72 SU in 2010, just two games back of the NL West-winning San Francisco Giants, but few thought they would match that this season after some key losses in the offseason. That’s exactly what’s happening with the Padres so far, as they are last in the NL West, 3.5 games back of the Colorado Rockies.

The fact the Astros (3-8 SU) are at the bottom of the NL Central, five games back of the Cincinnati Reds, is no surprise, as few preseason predictions had Houston making much noise this season.

Head-to-head, San Diego is 7-3 SU in the past 10 meetings, and is 5-2 SU in the last seven meetings. The teams haven’t met since last July, when the Padres won a four-game series 3-1.

The Padres closed a three-game series with the Reds on Wednesday, after losing 8-2 on Tuesday. Houston finished a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Astros blasted the Cubs 11-2.

San Diego will start righthander Dustin Moseley, who is 0-2 with a 2.08 ERA. He last pitched Saturday, going six innings in a 4-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Astros will give the ball to righthander Bud Norris, who is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA. Norris also last pitched on Saturday, going six innings in a 7-5 loss to the Florida Marlins.

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Stanley Cup Playoffs open Wednesday

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Apr 122011

The Stanley Cup Playoffs get started Wednesday with openers in five series, including the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals facing off in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at the Verizon Center (7:30 pm ET, VERSUS).

NHL Odds have Washington as a -180 favorite and the over/under total at 5.5.

Head-to-head, the Capitals are 6-3-0-1 in the past 10 meetings. But it’s the Rangers who not just won, but dominated the season series, going  3-1 SU in the four meetings between the teams this season.

The Rangers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games on the road and Washington is 8-1 SU in its last nine at home.

Also Wednesday, the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks face the NHL-best Vancouver Canucks in the opener of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series in Vancouver (10 pm ET, VERSUS, CBC).

NHL Betting has the Canucks as a -180 favorite and the total at 5.5.

Chicago is 6-4 SU in the last 10 head-to-head meetings.  

Vancouver, which had the best record in the NHL this season, is the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.

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Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees meet in AL East clash Tuesday

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Apr 112011

AL East division rivals  Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees open a three-game set Tuesday at Yankee Stadium

MLB Odds and Baseball Picks have the Yankees as a -185 moneyline favorite and the over/under total at 9.5.

Baltimore (6-3 SU) is off to a great start and leads the division but has started to come back to earth with two losses in its last three. New York (5-4 SU) is one game back of the Orioles.

The teams last met in a three-game series in September, won 2-1 by the Yankees. New York is 6-4 SU in the past 10 meetings.

The Orioles are coming off a 2-1 series loss against the Texas Rangers. New York lost the rubber match of its series against AL East rival Boston Red Sox by a score of 4-0 on Sunday.

Baltimore will give the ball to righthander Chris Tillman, who is 0-0 with a 3.37 ERA. In his last start Thursday against the Detroit Tigers, Tillman went four and two-thirds innings in a 9-5 win. The Yankees will counter with right-hander AJ Burnett, who is 2-0 with an ERA of 4.09. He last pitched Thursday against the Minnesota Twins, going 6 innings in a 4-3 win.

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed illness.

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Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox clash on ESPN

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Apr 102011

AL East rivals the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox, who have both begun the 2011 MLB season in unspectacular fashion, open a three-game series Monday at Fenway Park (7:10 pm ET, ESPN).

The Rays (1-8 SU) were not expected to match their 2010 season, when they finished with the second-best record in the majors, but also were not expected to stumble out of the gate the way they have.

The Red Sox (1-7 SU) were expected to get off to a strong start, and were in fact the favorite to not only win the AL East, but to win the World Series.

Both were swept in their season-opening series, the Rays by the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles, and the Red Sox by the Texas Rangers. The Rays followed that with a two-game series loss against the Los Angeles Angels before picking up their first win against the Chicago White Sox. Boston followed its loss to the Rangers by getting swept by the Cleveland Indians, and then won its first of the season against the hated New York Yankees Friday.

Tampa Bay will give the ball to Jeremy Hellickson on Monday. The righthander is 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA. Boston will counter with righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has a 5.40 ERA and a 0-1 record.

Head-to-head, the Rays are 6-4 SU in the past 10 meetings. The teams last met in a three-game series last September, won 2-1 by the Red Sox.

The Rays dropped a 6-1 decision to the White Sox on Sunday, and Boston lost 9-4 to the Yankees on Saturday.

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