Posted on
3/13/2008 6:13:53 PM
NBA Basketball - Thursday Night Preview
By Dave Golokhov
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards have been battling injuries all season long but will get a boost on Thursday as Caron Butler is expected to return to the lineup.
Butler has missed 16 straight games and the Wizards need him back in the lineup ASAP as they try to climb back to .500 with a win.
The Cavs lost on Wednesday night but have been a hot team since the trade deadline. They have won five of their last seven games.
After an upset loss as a favorite, the Cavs are 5-2 this season. They are also 24-11 ATS in March over the last three years.
These teams have split their last 10 meetings in Washington.
NBA Free Picks: Washington
Portland Trail Blazers @ Sacramento Kings
The good news for the Portland Trail Blazers is that Greg Oden has started some light practicing. The bad news is that he won’t return this season to help a late-season playoff push.
Portland has covered seven of their last nine games and won three of their last four straight up. They are currently 10th in the Western Conference.
Sacramento hasn’t been favored much this season and is only 7-14 in the 21 times they were laying points. But Portland is just 2-6 ATS this year when posted as an underdog of 3.5 to six points.
The Trail Blazers are 9-4 ATS after a division game and 20-13 against poor defensive teams that allow 99+ points per game.
Sacramento has come under the league’s microscope of late after Ron Artest suggested that the team in tanking games. He might be right since the Kings have lost seven of nine, putting themselves in a better position in the 2008 NBA Draft.
The over is 8-1 in the last nine meetings in Sacramento and 15 of the last 20 meetings overall have gone over the number as well.
NBA Free Picks: Portland
Golden State Warriors @ Phoenix Suns
Get ready for some points as the two highest scoring teams in the NBA square off on the late game of the Thursday night double-header.
The Phoenix Suns have been average since making a blockbuster move to acquire Shaquille O’Neal. While their presence on the interior has been beefed up, their perimeter defense has deteriorated significantly.
That’s bad news since the Warriors are one of the best perimeter teams in the NBA.
The Suns are only 13-19 ATS in home games and 8-14 ATS after a win by 10 points or more.
The Warriors have quietly been one of the hottest teams in the NBA recently. They have lost only three times in their last 11 games.
The good news for the Suns is that they dominate this series at home. They have won 19 of the last 22 matchups in Phoenix.
But with the addition of Shaq, the chemistry of the Suns has changed, which might make the last stat less valuable.
NBA Free Picks: Golden State
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