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The New Orleans Hornets and the Denver Nuggets will both be trying to pick up a win on Wednesday when they battle at Pepsi Center in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.
Odds makers currently have the Nuggets listed as 10½-point favorites versus the Hornets, while the game’s total is sitting at 197½.
Carmelo Anthony had 26 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, as the Nuggets slammed the Hornets 121-63 to take a 3-1 lead in the series on Monday night. Denver cashed as 3-point road underdogs as the game played under the 193-point total listed by sportsbooks.
Chauncey Billups went for 17 points and eight assists for the Nuggets, who got 14 points off the bench from Linas Kleiza in the blowout. David West dropped 14 points for New Orleans, while reserve James Posey added 12 points and seven boards for the Hornets.
One of my top sports picks is for Denver to win easily.
Team records:
New Orleans: 49-33 SU, 35-45-2 ATS
Denver: 54-28 SU, 45-36-1 ATS
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The Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at EnergySolutions Arena.
Odds makers currently have the Lakers listed as 4-point favorites versus the Jazz, while the game’s total is sitting at 209.
The Jazz got themselves back into their first-round playoff series by defeating the Lakers 88-86 Thursday night, and now trail the best-of-seven series 2-1. That game’s combined 174 points went UNDER the posted total of 214. Carlos Boozer led the way with 23 points and 22 rebounds for a double-double for the Jazz.
Lamar Odom netted 21 points with 14 rebounds to complete a double-double for the Lakers.
One of my top sports picks is the LA Lakers.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 65-17 SU, 42-39-1 ATS
Utah: 48-34 SU, 39-43 ATS
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The fans at EnergySolutions Arena will be treated to a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz when they take their seats on Thursday for the third game of this first-round playoff series.
Odds makers currently have the Lakers listed as 1½-point favorites versus the Jazz, while the game’s total is sitting at 214.
Kobe Bryant went for 26 points, nine assists, and six rebounds to lead the Lakers over the Jazz 119-109 to take a 2-0 lead in their series on Tuesday night.
Los Angeles failed to cover as 11.5-point home favorites as the game played over the 211.5-point total set by odds makers. Pau Gasol added 22 points and six boards for the Lakers, who got 19 points off the bench from Lamar Odom in the victory.
Deron Williams had 35 points, nine assists, and four steals for Utah, while Carlos Boozer went for 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Jazz.
One of my top sports picks for Thursday is the LA Lakers.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 65-17 SU, 42-39-1 ATS
Utah: 48-34 SU, 39-43 ATS
The Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers will both be trying to pick up a win on Tuesday when they battle at Rose Garden.
Odds makers currently have the Trail Blazers listed as 5½-point favorites versus the Rockets, while the game’s total is sitting at 183½.
The Rockets drew first blood in their Western Conference first-round playoff series with a dominating 108-81 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, s 5-point underdogs. The Rockets won the game as a 5-point underdog, while the 189 points made it OVER the posted total of 182. Aaron Brooks led the Rockets with 27 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Brandon Roy dropped 21 points in a losing effort.
One of my basketball picks for Tuesday is for Portland to win easily.
Team records:
Houston: 53-29 SU, 40-41-1 ATS
Portland: 54-28 SU, 46-36 ATS
The Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Amway Arena in the opening game of their first-round playoff series.
Odds makers currently have the Magic listed as 9½-point favorites versus the 76ers, while the game’s total is sitting at 191.
The 76ers forced overtime and came away with a 111-110 victory over the Cavaliers in both team’s regular-season finale last time out. The 76ers failed to cover the 3-point spread, and the combined score sailed OVER the posted total of 185. Andre Miller led the 76ers with 30 points, while Andre Iguodala added 24 points in the win.
Tony Battie led the way with 21 points on Wednesday night as the Magic cruised to a 98-73 win over the Bobcats. The Magic easily covered the 3-point spread at home in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night’s posted total (184.5).
One of my top sport picks for Sunday is for Orlando to romp over Philly.
Team records:
Philadelphia: 41-41 SU, 36-44-2 ATS
Orlando: 59-23 SU, 49-32-1 ATS
The St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs will meet on the field at Wrigley Field on Thursday in a battle of division rivals.
The Cardinals will pin their hopes on the pitching of ace right hander Adam Wainwright in this game. Wainwright has a 1-0 record and a 1.74 ERA this season.
Wainwright’s opponent in this one will be Sean Marshall. The Cubs lefthander has a 0.00 ERA to go along with a 0-0 record this season.
Odds makers currently have the Cubs listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the Cardinals, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.
Ryan Ludwick cracked a two-run homer and drove in three runs to lead the Cardinals past the Diamondbacks 12-7 in the rubber match of a three-game series on Wednesday. The Cardinals won that game at EVEN odds, and the combined score sailed OVER the posted over/under (10).
Albert Pujols and Chris Duncan drove in two runs apiece for the Cardinals. Joel Pineiro got the win, allowing five runs off nine hits over five innings on the mound. Derrek Lee homered in a losing effort, while Rich Harden was tagged for four runs off five hits over three innings of work.
One of my baseball picks for Thursday is for the Chicago Cubs to win.
Team records:
St. Louis: 7-3 SU
Chicago: 5-3 SU
The fans at American Airlines Center will be treated to a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks when they take their seats on Monday.
Odds makers currently have the Mavericks listed as 11-point favorites versus the Timberwolves, while the game’s total is sitting at 201½.
The Timberwolves were defeated 110-97 by the Suns last time out, as 2-point underdogs. The combined score fell UNDER the posted total of 224. Sebastian Telfair shot 8-for-12 from the field with 21 points in a losing effort.
The Mavericks lost to New Orleans 102-92 as a 4-point underdog on Sunday. The combined score caused this game to be a PUSH on the posted over/under total (194). Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Josh Howard had 15 points.
One of my top sports picks for Monday is the Dallas Mav’s to win easily.
Team records:
Minnesota: 24-56 SU, 36-42-2 ATS
Dallas: 48-32 SU, 39-41 ATS
The Orlando Magic and the New Jersey Nets will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Izod Center.
Odds makers currently have the Magic listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Nets, while the game’s total is sitting at 191.
The Magic were upset 105-95 by the Knicks last time out, as 11-point favorites at home. The 200 points fell UNDER the posted total of 210.5. Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic with 24 points and nine rebounds.
Ryan Anderson led the Nets with 20 points and four rebounds in their 100-93 loss to the Nets last time out, as 8-point underdogs. The 193 points made it OVER the posted total of 191.
One of my top sports picks for Saturday is the Orlando Magic.
Current streak:
New Jersey has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Orlando: 58-21 SU, 48-30-1 ATS
New Jersey: 32-47 SU, 40-37-2 ATS
The Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at ARCO Arena.
Odds makers currently have the Rockets listed as 11-point favorites versus the Kings, while the game’s total is sitting at 207.
Yao Ming went for 20 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Rockets over the Magic 93-83 on Tuesday night. Houston covered as 1-point home favorites as the teams played under the 189.5-point total listed by sportsbooks.
Spencer Hawes went for 21 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Kings in their 122-104 loss to the Lakers on Tuesday night. Los Angeles covered as 10-point road favorites as the teams played over the 217-point total listed by odds makers.
One of my top sports picks is the Houston Rockets.
Current streak:
Houston has won 2 straight games.
Sacramento has lost 5 straight games.
Team records:
Houston: 50-28 SU, 38-39-1 ATS
Sacramento: 16-61 SU, 36-41 ATS
The Michigan State Spartans and the North Carolina Tar Heels will hit the hardwood at Detroit’s Ford Field on Monday night in the championship game of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
Odds makers currently have the Tar Heels listed as 7½-point favorites versus the Spartans, while the game’s total is sitting at 153.
Kalin Lucas netted 21 points and dished out five assists on Saturday as Michigan State defeated Connecticut 82-73 in the Final Four. Michigan State won the game as a 4.5-point underdog, while the 155 points sailed OVER the posted total of 134.5. Raymar Morgan tossed in 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in that win for the Spartans.
North Carolina jumped out to a nine point lead at the half and ran to a 83-69 victory over Villanova in the Final Four. North Carolina easily covered the 7.5-point spread, but the combined score fell UNDER the posted total of 160. Ty Lawson led the way with 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Tar Heels. Tyler Hansbrough added 15 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double in that win.
One of my top sports picks is for Michigan State to cover the point spread.
Team records:
Michigan State: 31-6 SU, 21-13 ATS
North Carolina: 33-4 SU, 17-19 ATS