Spurs host Boston Celtics to tip NBA weekend
Spurs host Boston Celtics to tip NBA weekend
The Lone Star State will be the site for tonight's matchup between the last two NBA champions as the Celtics travel to face the Spurs. Both teams have been battling injuries to key contributors, and some of those players could be back in action in tonight's tilt at the AT&T Center. Boston's Paul Pierce has done his best to cover for his absent teammates and could get some help Friday if Kevin Garnett returns.
How about we let the pros handle this one?
March Madness is a fantastic spectacle, no question, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Thursday’s 12-hour marathon session of college hoops. But some of these kids can’t hit the broad side of a barn. They make questionable decisions, crack under pressure, turn the ball over and fall down a lot. Kind of like the Washington Wizards.
Okay, that was an easy lay-up. In reality, the Wizards would probably beat the North Carolina Tar Heels like a rented mule. And that’s the worst team in the Eastern Conference. Let’s turn our attention to six NBA teams who are currently in position to make the playoffs and enjoy the talent level on display.
Boston at San Antonio
Friday, Mar 20, 8:30 p.m. (ET) NBA-TV
This matchup could mark the return of both Kevin Garnett (knee) and Ray Allen (elbow) to active duty. Both players flew with the team to San Antonio; it’s the first time Garnett has traveled with the Celtics (51-18 SU, 34-35 ATS) since he strained his right knee a month ago. Boston is 7-6 SU and 3-10 ATS since then, and lost 112-108 at home to Miami (+7) on Wednesday night as Allen also sat out.
Coach Doc Rivers says he wants to “ease” Garnett back into the lineup. He’ll be very wise to resist the temptation to hand the Big Ticket heavy minutes in the face of the added frontline injuries to Leon Powe, Glen Davis and Brian Scalabrine. This is a solid opportunity for Tim Duncan and the Spurs (45-22 SU, 34-31-2 ATS) to wreak some havoc at Boston’s expense. Duncan sat out Tuesday’s 78-76 loss at Oklahoma City (+5) to give his knees some rest; San Antonio is otherwise 10-4 SU and 9-5 ATS over the past month.
Betting odds for this matchup were being held back as the bookies awaited word on Garnett’s status. The Spurs (+6½) won their other meeting this year 105-99 at the Garden with Garnett on the floor.
L.A. Lakers at Chicago
Saturday, Mar 21, 8:30 p.m. (ET) WGN
We told you about the Lakers (54-14 SU, 34-34 ATS) and their current lack of chutzpah in our Thursday TNT doubleheader preview. And sure enough, they came out flat in a 114-106 victory over hobbling Golden State (+13), falling to 6-4 SU and 3-7 ATS over the past 10 games. The bench players are taking much of the heat, but they did their part against the Warriors. Kobe Bryant, meanwhile, was 9-of-25 from the floor.
Maybe an extended seven-game road trip will help the Lakers find their mojo. Their first stop is Chicago, where the Bulls (32-37 SU, 36-32-1 ATS) are 5-3 SU and 7-1 ATS in their last eight to climb into a playoff spot in the East. That streak coincides with the elevation of recent acquisition John Salmons (16.56 PER) to the starting lineup to replace the injured Luol Deng. Brad Miller (16.80 PER) is also playing well for Chicago with 12.4 points and 8.0 rebounds in 27.5 minutes per game off the bench. The Bulls are 6-0 SU and ATS at home since getting Salmons and Miller from Sacramento.
Miami at Detroit
Sunday, Mar 22, 1:00 p.m. (ET) ABC
Uh-oh. The Heat (36-31 SU, 31-34-2 ATS) had to sit Dwyane Wade on Wednesday with a strained right hip flexor, although they still managed to extend the Celtics to overtime and eventually cash in. There are concerns the sprain is getting worse, not better, and the Miami Herald says Wade (30.46 PER) could miss Friday’s matchup with New Jersey. Handicappers will need to follow this developing story very closely in advance of Sunday’s nationally televised date with Detroit (33-34 SU, 29-38 ATS).
The Pistons remain in a playoff spot despite losing their last three games in a row (at 2-1 ATS), including the last two since Richard Hamilton suffered a groin injury. Allen Iverson (back) was scheduled to undergo tests at Georgetown this week; both players could be back in action on Sunday. Rasheed Wallace (calf) is also day-to-day. These are major absences for the Pistons, but they’re 7-3 ATS without Iverson and have the depth to handle a Wade-less Heat squad.
The Lone Star State will be the site for tonight's matchup between the last two NBA champions as the Celtics travel to face the Spurs. Both teams have been battling injuries to key contributors, and some of those players could be back in action in tonight's tilt at the AT&T Center. Boston's Paul Pierce has done his best to cover for his absent teammates and could get some help Friday if Kevin Garnett returns.
How about we let the pros handle this one?
March Madness is a fantastic spectacle, no question, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Thursday’s 12-hour marathon session of college hoops. But some of these kids can’t hit the broad side of a barn. They make questionable decisions, crack under pressure, turn the ball over and fall down a lot. Kind of like the Washington Wizards.
Okay, that was an easy lay-up. In reality, the Wizards would probably beat the North Carolina Tar Heels like a rented mule. And that’s the worst team in the Eastern Conference. Let’s turn our attention to six NBA teams who are currently in position to make the playoffs and enjoy the talent level on display.
Boston at San Antonio
Friday, Mar 20, 8:30 p.m. (ET) NBA-TV
This matchup could mark the return of both Kevin Garnett (knee) and Ray Allen (elbow) to active duty. Both players flew with the team to San Antonio; it’s the first time Garnett has traveled with the Celtics (51-18 SU, 34-35 ATS) since he strained his right knee a month ago. Boston is 7-6 SU and 3-10 ATS since then, and lost 112-108 at home to Miami (+7) on Wednesday night as Allen also sat out.
Coach Doc Rivers says he wants to “ease” Garnett back into the lineup. He’ll be very wise to resist the temptation to hand the Big Ticket heavy minutes in the face of the added frontline injuries to Leon Powe, Glen Davis and Brian Scalabrine. This is a solid opportunity for Tim Duncan and the Spurs (45-22 SU, 34-31-2 ATS) to wreak some havoc at Boston’s expense. Duncan sat out Tuesday’s 78-76 loss at Oklahoma City (+5) to give his knees some rest; San Antonio is otherwise 10-4 SU and 9-5 ATS over the past month.
Betting odds for this matchup were being held back as the bookies awaited word on Garnett’s status. The Spurs (+6½) won their other meeting this year 105-99 at the Garden with Garnett on the floor.
L.A. Lakers at Chicago
Saturday, Mar 21, 8:30 p.m. (ET) WGN
We told you about the Lakers (54-14 SU, 34-34 ATS) and their current lack of chutzpah in our Thursday TNT doubleheader preview. And sure enough, they came out flat in a 114-106 victory over hobbling Golden State (+13), falling to 6-4 SU and 3-7 ATS over the past 10 games. The bench players are taking much of the heat, but they did their part against the Warriors. Kobe Bryant, meanwhile, was 9-of-25 from the floor.
Maybe an extended seven-game road trip will help the Lakers find their mojo. Their first stop is Chicago, where the Bulls (32-37 SU, 36-32-1 ATS) are 5-3 SU and 7-1 ATS in their last eight to climb into a playoff spot in the East. That streak coincides with the elevation of recent acquisition John Salmons (16.56 PER) to the starting lineup to replace the injured Luol Deng. Brad Miller (16.80 PER) is also playing well for Chicago with 12.4 points and 8.0 rebounds in 27.5 minutes per game off the bench. The Bulls are 6-0 SU and ATS at home since getting Salmons and Miller from Sacramento.
Miami at Detroit
Sunday, Mar 22, 1:00 p.m. (ET) ABC
Uh-oh. The Heat (36-31 SU, 31-34-2 ATS) had to sit Dwyane Wade on Wednesday with a strained right hip flexor, although they still managed to extend the Celtics to overtime and eventually cash in. There are concerns the sprain is getting worse, not better, and the Miami Herald says Wade (30.46 PER) could miss Friday’s matchup with New Jersey. Handicappers will need to follow this developing story very closely in advance of Sunday’s nationally televised date with Detroit (33-34 SU, 29-38 ATS).
The Pistons remain in a playoff spot despite losing their last three games in a row (at 2-1 ATS), including the last two since Richard Hamilton suffered a groin injury. Allen Iverson (back) was scheduled to undergo tests at Georgetown this week; both players could be back in action on Sunday. Rasheed Wallace (calf) is also day-to-day. These are major absences for the Pistons, but they’re 7-3 ATS without Iverson and have the depth to handle a Wade-less Heat squad.