Kobe, LA Lakers host Nuggets without Melo
Carmelo Anthony was quoted as saying it would take a "miracle" for him to be on the Staples Center floor tonight when the Nuggets travel to Los Angeles to meet the Lakers. Meanwhile, it has been something of a miracle the way that Kobe Bryant has battled through his injuries this season to keep Lakers on top of the Western Conference. Friday's tip between the top two squads in the West is set for 10:30 p.m. (ET) in ESPN.
The way Kobe Bryant is going right now, he’s going to need a courtside ambulance to take him to the Lakers’ dressing room following the obligatory post-game interview.
Bryant is seriously banged-up. He seems to be over the lower back issue that hobbled him a few weeks back, but he’s still playing with a fractured index finger on his shooting hand.
If that wasn’t enough, Kobe is also nursing a bum ankle, which was exacerbated when Lamar Odom stepped on his foot in Los Angeles’ 99-97 win over Charlotte (+10½) on Wednesday night. Seeded fourth on Bryant’s personal injury rap sheet is his knee; that too has been giving him trouble of late.
The ailments are affecting Kobe’s performance on the court. After shooting 50.6% from the field for 29.9 points per game in November, Bryant shot only 41.3% while averaging 23.7 PPG in January. If Kobe doesn’t attain some semblance of health down the stretch, Lakers backers can kiss their futures bets goodbye.
Denver at LA Lakers
Friday – 10:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Seemingly needing a steel-chair shot to the head to keep him out of the lineup, Bryant is probable for the Lakers (38-12 SU, 22-26-2 ATS) for their matchup against the Denver Nuggets (33-16 SU, 22-25-2 ATS) on Friday night at Staples Center.
Kobe had his worst performance of the season on Wednesday night against Charlotte, scoring only five points on 2-of-12 shooting in L.A.’s slim SU victory. Bryant did manage six assists in 37 painful minutes for the Lakers, who went 5-3 SU (4-3-1 ATS) on their annual Grammy road trip that ended on Monday night in Memphis.
Kobe dropped 44 points against the Grizzlies (+1), but it wasn’t enough in the Lakers’ 95-93 loss. You can give Los Angeles a mulligan for this one after it travelled overnight from Boston following its 90-89 win over the Celtics on Sunday afternoon, but the Lakers remain a pedestrian wager nonetheless.
You’d expect the Lakers to come out firing on Friday night with the memory of the Nuggets’ 105-79 pounding of the Lakers on November 13 at Pepsi Center fresh in their minds, but don’t count on it. Dominant performances have been few and far between from Los Angeles this season.
Make sure to get word of Carmelo Anthony’s status before laying down on the matchup. Anthony missed Denver’s 109-97 loss to Phoenix (+5½) on Wednesday night with an ankle injury, and was listed as doubtful for the game at Staples Center.
Anthony led the Nuggets with 25 points in the previous meeting, while Nene went for 13 points and six rebounds for Denver (-4).
The key to the victory was the Nuggets’ performance on the defensive end of the floor. Denver led 58-56 at the half, but outscored L.A. 47-23 in the final two quarters while holding Bryant to 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting.
Orlando at Boston
Sunday – 2:30 p.m. (ET) ABC
The Celtics (31-16 SU, 19-27-1 ATS) go for their third ATS payday of the season against the Magic (33-16 SU, 25-23-1 ATS) when they host Orlando at TD Garden on Sunday afternoon.
The Magic clipped the Celts 96-94 at Amway Arena last Thursday, but Boston cashed as 3 ½-point underdogs in the loss. Dwight Howard finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks for Orlando, which held Kevin Garnett to six points and seven boards on 2-of-8 from the floor.
Stan Van Gundy could send a shorthanded team to the floor on Sunday. Jameer Nelson (knee) didn’t play in Orlando’s 99-82 win over Milwaukee as 9 ½-point chalk on Tuesday, and was listed as questionable for Friday night’s game against Washington. Mickael Pietrus (ankle) was also questionable for the contest against the Wizards.
The Celtics are dealing with injury issues of their own. Paul Pierce (foot) was doubtful for Boston’s tilt against New Jersey on Friday night after sitting out in the Celts’ 107-102 win against Miami (+5½) on Wednesday night, while Marquis Daniels (wrist) remains sidelined until the middle of the month.
Boston had won two straight (1-1 ATS) before taking on the Nets; prior to that the Celtics had dropped six of their last eight games, going a dismal 1-6-1 ATS. Looking back over its last 10 games, Boston is only 2-7-1 ATS (4-6 SU).
Carmelo Anthony was quoted as saying it would take a "miracle" for him to be on the Staples Center floor tonight when the Nuggets travel to Los Angeles to meet the Lakers. Meanwhile, it has been something of a miracle the way that Kobe Bryant has battled through his injuries this season to keep Lakers on top of the Western Conference. Friday's tip between the top two squads in the West is set for 10:30 p.m. (ET) in ESPN.
The way Kobe Bryant is going right now, he’s going to need a courtside ambulance to take him to the Lakers’ dressing room following the obligatory post-game interview.
Bryant is seriously banged-up. He seems to be over the lower back issue that hobbled him a few weeks back, but he’s still playing with a fractured index finger on his shooting hand.
If that wasn’t enough, Kobe is also nursing a bum ankle, which was exacerbated when Lamar Odom stepped on his foot in Los Angeles’ 99-97 win over Charlotte (+10½) on Wednesday night. Seeded fourth on Bryant’s personal injury rap sheet is his knee; that too has been giving him trouble of late.
The ailments are affecting Kobe’s performance on the court. After shooting 50.6% from the field for 29.9 points per game in November, Bryant shot only 41.3% while averaging 23.7 PPG in January. If Kobe doesn’t attain some semblance of health down the stretch, Lakers backers can kiss their futures bets goodbye.
Denver at LA Lakers
Friday – 10:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Seemingly needing a steel-chair shot to the head to keep him out of the lineup, Bryant is probable for the Lakers (38-12 SU, 22-26-2 ATS) for their matchup against the Denver Nuggets (33-16 SU, 22-25-2 ATS) on Friday night at Staples Center.
Kobe had his worst performance of the season on Wednesday night against Charlotte, scoring only five points on 2-of-12 shooting in L.A.’s slim SU victory. Bryant did manage six assists in 37 painful minutes for the Lakers, who went 5-3 SU (4-3-1 ATS) on their annual Grammy road trip that ended on Monday night in Memphis.
Kobe dropped 44 points against the Grizzlies (+1), but it wasn’t enough in the Lakers’ 95-93 loss. You can give Los Angeles a mulligan for this one after it travelled overnight from Boston following its 90-89 win over the Celtics on Sunday afternoon, but the Lakers remain a pedestrian wager nonetheless.
You’d expect the Lakers to come out firing on Friday night with the memory of the Nuggets’ 105-79 pounding of the Lakers on November 13 at Pepsi Center fresh in their minds, but don’t count on it. Dominant performances have been few and far between from Los Angeles this season.
Make sure to get word of Carmelo Anthony’s status before laying down on the matchup. Anthony missed Denver’s 109-97 loss to Phoenix (+5½) on Wednesday night with an ankle injury, and was listed as doubtful for the game at Staples Center.
Anthony led the Nuggets with 25 points in the previous meeting, while Nene went for 13 points and six rebounds for Denver (-4).
The key to the victory was the Nuggets’ performance on the defensive end of the floor. Denver led 58-56 at the half, but outscored L.A. 47-23 in the final two quarters while holding Bryant to 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting.
Orlando at Boston
Sunday – 2:30 p.m. (ET) ABC
The Celtics (31-16 SU, 19-27-1 ATS) go for their third ATS payday of the season against the Magic (33-16 SU, 25-23-1 ATS) when they host Orlando at TD Garden on Sunday afternoon.
The Magic clipped the Celts 96-94 at Amway Arena last Thursday, but Boston cashed as 3 ½-point underdogs in the loss. Dwight Howard finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks for Orlando, which held Kevin Garnett to six points and seven boards on 2-of-8 from the floor.
Stan Van Gundy could send a shorthanded team to the floor on Sunday. Jameer Nelson (knee) didn’t play in Orlando’s 99-82 win over Milwaukee as 9 ½-point chalk on Tuesday, and was listed as questionable for Friday night’s game against Washington. Mickael Pietrus (ankle) was also questionable for the contest against the Wizards.
The Celtics are dealing with injury issues of their own. Paul Pierce (foot) was doubtful for Boston’s tilt against New Jersey on Friday night after sitting out in the Celts’ 107-102 win against Miami (+5½) on Wednesday night, while Marquis Daniels (wrist) remains sidelined until the middle of the month.
Boston had won two straight (1-1 ATS) before taking on the Nets; prior to that the Celtics had dropped six of their last eight games, going a dismal 1-6-1 ATS. Looking back over its last 10 games, Boston is only 2-7-1 ATS (4-6 SU).