–Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Cleveland as a 6 1/2-point home ‘chalk’ over Washington, with the total listed at 199. This contest is scheduled to tipoff at 7:35 p.m. ET.
–Washington (27-25 straight up, 23-27 against the spread) was mired in a two-game SU losing funk before beating Minnesota Tuesday as a seven-point home favorite, 90-78. The combined 168 points never seriously threatened the 193-point closing total. The Wizards have covered their last eight outings.
–Washington prevailed by limiting the Timberwolves to just nine points in the second quarter. The Wizards finished the contest with a 42-35 rebounding advantage, and shot 46 percent (30-of-65) from the field. Gilbert Arenas led all scorers with 34 points and five rebounds, while Caron Butler added 19 and 12.
–Washington has struggled with an 8-16 SU and 11-13 ATS road record, dropping those matchups by an average score of 101-97. The Wizards are in the midst of an eight-game stretch that has them alternating home and away games.
–Washington is 3-1 both SU and ATS the previous four encounters with Cleveland after winning the last meeting February 10 as a two-point home favorite, 101-89. The combined 190 points went ‘under’ the 197 1/2-point closing total, snapping back-to-back ‘over’ outings.
–Cleveland (32-22 SU, 28-23 ATS) had won three games in a row SU (2-0 ATS) before Wednesday’s setback to Philadelphia as a two-point road underdog, 116-107. The combined 223 points soared past the 194-point closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to cash the fourth game in a row.
–The Cavaliers enjoyed a slight rebounding advantage, 43-39, but allowed the Sixers to connect at a 53-percent clip (44-of-83). LeBron James paced the offense with 33 points and five assists, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas contributed 27 and nine rebounds.
–Cleveland maintains a 20-7 SU and 16-10 ATS home ledger, with the ‘under’ going 15-12. The Cavs, winning those affairs by an average score of 99-91, travel to Detroit after this contest before returning for a two-game homestand.
–Washington forward Jared Jeffries is ‘probable’ against the Cavaliers due to an illness.
–Cleveland guard Larry Hughes (finger) is expected to miss the rest of the regular season, while forward Luke Jackson (wrist) is ‘out’ 4-6 weeks.
**Nets at Knicks**
–LVSC has New Jersey as a 4 1/2-point road favorite over New York, with the total set at 188. This contest is scheduled to begin at 8:05 p.m. ET, with ESPN providing coverage.
–New Jersey (30-23 SU, 26-27 ATS) has strung together three consecutive SU victories after slipping past Orlando Wednesday as an 11 1/2-point home ‘chalk,’ 96-93. The combined 189 points went ‘over’ the 179-point closing total. The Nets are just 1-3 ATS their past four performances.
–New Jersey held a slight rebounding advantage, 41-36, while shooting 42 percent (33-of-78) from the field. Point guard Jason Kidd led the charge with 28 points and 11 assists, while Richard Jefferson pitched in with 23 and eight rebounds.
–The Nets own a 12-16 SU and 13-15 ATS road record, with the ‘under’ going a solid 18-10. New Jersey returns home Sunday to take on Indiana before traveling to Atlanta and Minnesota.
–The Nets are 5-0 both SU and ATS the last five meetings with New York after winning Feb. 8 as an 11-point home ‘chalk,’ 96-83. The combined 179 points went ‘under’ the 190-point closing total, snapping a string of two straight ‘over’ outings in this series.
–New York (15-38 SU, 24-29 ATS) dropped to 1-4 SU and 2-3 ATS its last five games after Wednesday’s loss to Miami as a 9 1/2-point home underdog, 103-83. The combined 186 points never seriously threatened the 201-point closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to occur the fourth game in a row.
–Rookie Channing Frye paved the way with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the setback, while Quentin Richardson added 14. Those were the only Knicks players to reach double digits in scoring.
–New York is 11-16 SU and 12-15 ATS at Madison Square Garden, with the ‘over’ going 16-11. The Knicks, dropping those games by an average score of 102-98, wrap up a three-game homestand with this contest before embarking on a three-game road trip.
–Recent New York acquisition Steve Francis is ‘probable’ against the Nets.
**Spurs at Grizzlies**
–LVSC lists San Antonio as a 3 1/2-point road ‘chalk’ over Memphis, with the total set at 172. This game is slated to start at 8:05 p.m. ET.
–San Antonio (41-12 SU, 24-28 ATS) had dropped two games in a row SU and three consecutive ATS before throttling Seattle Tuesday as a 13-point home favorite, 103-78. The combined 181 points went ‘under’ the 196 1/2-point closing total, ending three consecutive ‘over’ outings.
–The Spurs enjoyed a solid rebounding advantage, 54-43, and also controlled the points in the paint, 48-32. Guard Tony Parker stepped up with 30 points and six assists, while Tim Duncan contributed 13 and 16 rebounds.
–San Antonio sports a 19-9 SU and 12-15 ATS road record, with the ‘over’ going 15-11. The Spurs, winning those affairs by an average score of 94-91, begin a four-game homestand after this matchup.
–San Antonio is 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS the last four encounters with Memphis after winning Jan. 16 as a one-point road underdog, 93-83. The combined 176 points went ‘over’ the 170-point closing total.
–Memphis (30-24 SU, 29-23 ATS) was riding a four-game SU winning streak until falling to Dallas Thursday as a 7 1/2-point road underdog, 97-87. The combined 184 points eclipsed the 180 ½-point closing total, snapping a string of three straight ‘under’ outings.
–Memphis is 17-8 SU and 14-9 ATS at home, with the ‘under’ going a robust 18-7. The Grizzlies, winning their home dates by an average score of 90-84, follow this contest with Sunday’s road game against Minnesota.
–San Antonio forward Robert Horry (abdominal) is ‘questionable’ versus the Grizzlies.
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