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UFC on FOX 18 Preview

UFC on Fox 18: Johnson vs. Bader
Saturday, January 30th – 8:00 p.m. ET
Newark, New Jersey
Anthony Johnson (20-5-0) vs. Ryan Bader (21-4-0)
Five Round Light Heavyweight Bout
Line: Johnson -400, Bader +325

Veterans Anthony Johnson and Ryan Bader take each other on in New Jersey in UFC on Fox 18.

Anthony Johnson is the top light heavyweight contender in the UFC rankings, and he has achieved that status through a long and successful career. His only loss in his past 11 fights came against the division’s champion Daniel Cormier, and he bounced back with a convincing victory over Jimi Manuwa in late 2015.

70 percent of his wins have been via knockout, and he will look to continue that trend against Ryan Bader, a similarly decorated fighter. Ranked fourth in the division, Bader has reeled off six consecutive victories since December 2013, including a win by unanimous decision over Rashad Evans.

That last victory should give the Nevada native plenty of confidence heading into this challenging bout.

Johnson lands 3.21 significant strikes per minute at a rate of 46.3 percent. He absorbs just 1.66 significant strikes per minute, and defends these strikes at a clip of 64.33 percent. He also averages 2.52 takedown attempts per 15 minutes at an impressive rate of 60 percent.

Additionally, he successfully defends takedowns 78.57 percent of the time. While known for his punching ability, Johnson does average 0.7 submissions attempted per 15 minutes.

Bader is the same height as Johnson, but his reach is four inches shorter at 74 inches, and this is reflected in his punching stats as he averages 2.62 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy of 40.44 percent.

His defense, however, is better than that of his opponent, as he absorbs 1.44 significant strikes per minute and defends such strikes at a rate of 72.54 percent.

He also averages a higher 3.37 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, but his accuracy of 42.27 percent is much lower. He defends takedowns at a 76.92 percent clip, and averages 0.41 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Other UFC on Fox 18 Bouts & Odds

Lightweight Bout:
Tony Martin -175
Felipe Olivieri +150

Welterweight Bout:
Matt Dwyer +175
Randy Brown -200

Featherweight Bout:
Levan Makashvili -300
Damon Jackson +250

Bantamweight Bout:
Alex Caceres -275
Masio Fullen +235

Welterweight Bout:
George Sullivan +110
Alexander Yakovlev -130

Flyweight Bout:
Dustin Ortiz -210
Wilson Reis +180

Middleweight Bout:
Kevin Casey +140
Rafael Natal -160

Lightweight Bout:
Olivier Aubin-Mercier -270
Carlos Diego Ferreira +230

Welterweight Bout:
Tarec Saffiedine -235
Jake Ellenberger +200

Welterweight Bout:
Sage Northcutt -450
Bryan Barberena +350

Bantamweight Bout:
Iuri Alcântara +140
Jimmie Rivera -160

Heavyweight Bout:
Josh Barnett -140
Ben Rothwell +110

Odds & Bouts Subject to Change

NBA notebook: Pistons owner pledges $10 million to aid Flint
By The Sports Xchange

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores announced Friday the first grants from a $10 million campaign to address the public health water crisis in Flint, Mich., that continues to gather international headlines.
Gores, a Flint native, is leading a private sector initiative that has pledged at least $10 million to a broad range of short- and long-term initiatives to help address the crisis in Flint after the drinking water was contaminated with lead.
The grants include a contribution to the children's health fund co-founded by Flint pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha, one of the first responders to recognize and draw attention to the crisis.

--Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has been cleared to return to game action after missing nearly four months with a shoulder injury.
The Hornets announced that Kidd-Gilchrist is expected to make his season debut in Friday night's game against the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore.
Kidd-Gilchrist, 22, underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder on Oct. 6.

--The Phoenix Suns signed guard Jordan McRae to a 10-day contract.
McRae, 24, ranks third in the NBA Development League this season with an average of 23.1 points in 28 games with the Delaware 87ers.
McRae scored a D-League record 61 points in his most recent outing on Tuesday.

--The Orlando Magic signed guard Keith Appling to a second 10-day contract.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Appling's first 10-day contract was signed on Jan. 18.
Appling, 23, has appeared in two games for the Magic this season, averaging 3.0 points in 7.5 minutes

Preview: Warriors (42-4) at 76ers (7-40)

Date: January 30, 2016 5:00 PM EDT

There are plenty of ways to quantify the gap between the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers, but a simple look at the standings is probably the greatest indicator. If things continue on this path for another week and a half, they'll be separated by the largest margin at the All-Star break since the game's inception in 1951.

Add in Golden State's recent demolition of some of the best teams in the league, and if it weren't for two more stops on the Warriors' East Coast road trip, one could probably call their flight for Saturday's contest the most pointless six hours of travel in NBA history.

The largest gap at the break in league history is the 38 games that separated Cleveland and New Jersey in 2009-10, and Golden State (42-4) and Philadelphia (7-40) each have six games remaining. At 35 1/2 games entering Philadelphia's 48th contest, it's already mathematically impossible for the league's worst team to pass its best - not that such matters are of concern to Golden State considering its recent run against teams that could theoretically catch it.

After Wednesday's 127-107 home win over Dallas, the Warriors have won five straight by an average of 25.4 points, and that includes games against Cleveland, Chicago, Indiana and San Antonio. Klay Thompson scored a season-high 45 points in 32 minutes against the Mavericks, following two games in which he totaled 29 while Stephen Curry poured in 37 and 39.

"Klay doesn't seem to have a care in the world, so that translates in a lot of different ways," coach Steve Kerr said. "It means it doesn't bother him too much when he misses shots, so he keeps shooting, which we want him to do. It also means he's fine taking a backseat to Steph. It works well. ... There always has to be a little bit of a pecking order in the NBA. Klay's personality suits that second option."

Thompson hit 7 of 12 from 3-point range as the Warriors went 14 of 29, bumping their mark over the winning streak to 43.8 percent while never scoring fewer than 120 points.

The Warriors have won the four meetings over the past two seasons by an average score of 27 points with the 76ers shooting 37.9 percent and 23.3 from 3-point range. The latest was a bit tamer, as Golden State shot just 40 percent in an 89-84 road victory on Feb. 9.

Philadelphia has been more respectable lately while trading wins and losses for the last six games, though it's coming off Wednesday's 110-97 defeat in Detroit. The 76ers have been far better offensively by averaging 102.1 points on 47.4 percent shooting over a 4-7 span after entering at 92.5 per game, and the last two have come with Jahlil Okafor and JaKarr Sampson out due to illness.

Jerami Grant started for a second straight game and scored a career-high 21 points, while Nerlens Noel added 20 and is averaging 13.6 on 69.8 percent shooting in his last five.

Okafor returned to practice Friday, but even if their top scorer is back, the 76ers are unlikely to keep pace with the Warriors. Golden State leads the league with 115.1 points per game, the NBA's highest mark since the Warriors averaged 118.7 in 1991-92. Philadelphia is last at 94.7 and turns the ball over more than any team in the league (17.9 per game), while Golden State scores a league-high 20.8 fast-break points per game.

"I think that when you watch championship level basketball, that's the game," 76ers coach Brett Brown told the team's official website. "I think (basketball) is going to be played with a high level of place, a high volume of 3s.

"They can score about any time they want. Can they sustain it? I think that they can. I actually think they can. I think they're going to be playing against the Spurs in late May. They're really an exciting team to watch."

Preview: Pistons (25-22) at Raptors (31-15)

Date: January 30, 2016 6:30 PM EDT

The Toronto Raptors were nearly perfect on a recent road trip. They've had absolutely no missteps thus far on a seven-game homestand.

Toronto looks to complete a perfect stay at Air Canada Centre and stretch its franchise-record winning streak to 11 games Saturday night against the Detroit Pistons.

After dropping the opener of a five-game trip at Cleveland on Jan. 4, the Raptors (31-15) reeled off wins in four straight before returning home to close out the month with seven consecutive games there.

They've won the first six of those contests with five coming by at least 10 points, including Thursday's 103-93 victory over New York. All-Stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan each scored 26 points, with Lowry adding 10 assists and six rebounds.

"No matter if we lose the next 10 or win the next 10, we know the way we need to play, and how we need to play in order to be successful," guard Terrence Ross told the team's official website. "This winning streak proves that we can play with anybody. We always have to push ourselves."

DeRozan has been particularly effective on the homestand, averaging 26.3 points per game.

"Words can't explain it, especially with the rough time I had last year, going down with the injury," DeRozan said of becoming an All-Star for the second time.

Lowry showed no adverse effects from a sprained left wrist suffered in Tuesday's 106-89 win over Washington. He's averaged 25.3 points on 52.3 percent shooting over the past three games.

"He looked pretty good, OK, healthy and fresh," coach Dwane Casey said. "It is still sore, but we can't dismiss the fact these young men have strung together 10, the first time in 20 years. It's not the end-all but it's an accomplishment."

Lowry is on the cusp of another achievement. His next assist will give him 1,792 and move him past Alvin Williams into sole possession of second place on the Raptors' all-time list.

Lowry was limited to five points and three assists in hist most recent matchup with Detroit, a 108-104 road loss March 24. DeRozan had 22 points and 10 rebounds in that game, and is averaging 25.5 points in his last four meetings.

The Pistons (25-22) are opening a three-game road trip after falling 114-106 to Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland on Friday.

"We've just got to swallow this one and move on to the next one," center Andre Drummond told the team's official website. "We need to do a better job of coming out prepared on these back to backs. It's not an excuse that we have a bunch of back to backs. The NBA plays back to backs, so we've got to do a better job of getting prepared and ready for these games."

Drummond had 20 points and eight rebounds Friday after getting 25 and 18 in a 110-97 win over Philadelphia two days prior. The center - who will join DeRozan and Lowry on the East All-Stars - is averaging 13.6 boards with 13.2 points over the past five against the Raptors.

Drummond was dominant against them in March, scoring 21 points with 18 rebounds.

Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were also impressive in that matchup, scoring 28 and 26 points, respectively.

Jackson, however, is coming off a 6-for-16 effort from the floor while finishing with 15 points Friday after totaling 56 over the two previous games - both Detroit wins.

The Pistons are 3-6 on the second of back to back games, losing all five on the road.

Preview: Nuggets (18-29) at Pacers (24-22)

Date: January 30, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Indiana's Myles Turner delivered his first breakout performance off the bench at Denver earlier this month.

The Nuggets will see the surging rookie center from the start Saturday night as they try to complete a season sweep of the Pacers, who are looking to win two straight for the first time in three weeks.

A loser of three in a row and six of seven, Indiana (24-22) needed a lift and Turner provided one Thursday in his first career start with 20 points over 26 minutes in a 111-92 win over Atlanta.

'My role on this team is to provide energy and bring a spark and that's what I did out there,' said the 11th overall pick, who turns 20 in March. 'It's all about opportunity. (This) was a big (opportunity) for me."

Turner has played only 24 games and never posted more than 10 points until doing so in each of the past six games, averaging 19.7 points on 62.2 percent shooting along with 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. That stretch began with 25 points and seven rebounds in a 129-126 loss at Denver (18-29) on Jan. 17. Turner scored a career-high 31 in a loss at Golden State five days later.

"He's a 19-year-old, but he's a mature 19-year-old and you don't find that very often," teammate George Hill told the Pacers' official website. "We didn't have to tell him anything, just go out and play his game like he's been doing."

With his team reeling, coach Frank Vogel felt Thursday was finally the time to insert Turner into the starting lineup alongside fellow 6-foot-11 teammate Ian Mahinmi.

'If it's a colossal failure, we'll go away from it sooner than later," Vogel said.

"This is the lineup, when I look at it, I see Ian and Myles Turner and the rim protection there is as good as any in the NBA."

Turner's effort seemed to rub off on his teammates. The Pacers had a 49-32 rebounding advantage, held the Southeast Division-leading Hawks to 39.8 percent from the field and finished the game on a 23-2 run.

'We just imposed our will. We got tired of losing,' said Vogel, whose club hasn't won two in a row since Jan. 6-8.

Monta Ellis had 25 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and his only other game with more than 20 this month came in Denver as he scored 24. The Pacers' shot a season-high 58.5 percent but failed to hold a 15-point lead, suffering their eighth loss in the past nine meetings.

That matchup marks each team's highest-scoring effort this season. The Nuggets scored 45 of their 75 second-half points in a final period highlighted by Randy Foye's go-ahead 3-pointer with 21 seconds remaining.

Denver had lost four of five since that game before winning 117-113 at Washington on Thursday. Danilo Gallinari scored 26, rookie Emmanuel Mudiay had 20 and Nikola Jokic added 15 with 10 rebounds as the Nuggets shot 50.6 percent - their best performance since Dec. 15.

Denver, however, has allowed an average of 111.7 points in its last seven games.

"Overall, better job than the last couple of games," coach Michael Malone said. "We'll take the win ... But never accept in a victory what you wouldn't accept in a defeat."

Gallinari scored 23 against Indiana and has averaged 23.5 in 14 games this month.

Indianapolis area native Gary Harris had 20 points against the Pacers, one off his career high.

Preview: Nets (12-35) at Pelicans (17-28)

Date: January 30, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The New Orleans Pelicans don't know when All-Star forward Anthony Davis and guard Tyreke Evans will be back. That means Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday may need to pick up the scoring slack to keep them surging Saturday night against the woeful Brooklyn Nets.

New Orleans (17-28) is averaging 110.9 points while winning six of its last eight games. The most significant loss of that stretch, however, is losing Davis to a concussion suffered Monday when he was accidentally hit in the head by Evans' elbow during a 112-111 loss to Houston.

Evans, meanwhile, has right knee tendinitis.

Without the pair, who average a combined 37.1 points, the Pelicans got superb performances from Anderson and Holiday in Thursday's 114-105 win over Sacramento. Anderson matched his career high of 36 points and added nine rebounds and four assists, while Holiday added 25 points and eight assists without a turnover off the bench as New Orleans won for the first time in six games without Davis.

"Obviously, Ryan was great, but I thought our other guys stepped up," coach Alvin Gentry said. "When they made a run at us, we kept our composure and were able to come up with the necessary baskets to extend the lead back. I was happy with the way everyone played."

Anderson added nine rebounds and four assists against the Kings, and he's averaging 27.0 points over the past three games - well above his season mark of 17.4 per game.

"We've been playing hard and playing really good defense and just playing for each other," said Holiday, who has 57 points and 17 assists over the last two games. "If we keep doing that, I think we can be where we want to be at the end of the day."

New Orleans has averaged 107.3 points during its three-game winning streak over the Nets (12-35). That seems destined to reach four since Brooklyn has lost 11 of its last 13 games while scoring just 90.5 per contest.

The Nets were abysmal from the field Friday, shooting a season-low 35.9 percent - 4 for 20 from beyond the arc - in a 91-79 loss at Dallas.

"I've been in situations before, so I know how to stay positive," said Thaddeus Young, who has been on one team with a winning record in eight-plus seasons. "I know how to continue to play, and how to keep willing my team on. That's what I'm going to do."

Young will try to improve upon his 11 points, 10 rebounds and five steals from Friday. The forward had 19 points in a 102-96 loss in the Nets' most recent visit to New Orleans on Feb. 25.

Brook Lopez had 15 points and seven boards as a reserve. However, he was among the few bright spots for Brooklyn on Friday, scoring 28 points with 12 rebounds.

The center is averaging 23.7 points, 10.3 boards and 2.0 blocks over the past seven road games.

Preview: Wizards (20-24) at Rockets (25-24)

Date: January 30, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

After facing two of the Western Conference's top teams, the Houston Rockets have nearly matched their losses from their previous three weeks.

The Rockets would appear to have an easier opponent Saturday night in the slumping Washington Wizards, a franchise they've also dominated in recent seasons.

Houston (25-24) wrapped up its three-game road trip with a pair of defeats to division leaders. The Rockets were blown out 130-99 by San Antonio on Wednesday but were more competitive Friday in a 116-108 loss against Oklahoma City despite being outshot 47.7 to 37.9 percent.

"We've got to take those shots with confidence and we believe in the guys that are taking those shots," interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "Tonight they didn't go. The past few weeks they've been falling and they'll go again. Guys work on it. They've got to trust their training, shoot them with confidence and we'll get them."

Not helping the Rockets' cause was Dwight Howard's ejection in the third quarter for a second technical foul. With Howard out, Thunder center Enes Kanter scored 20 of his 22 points.

Houston went 9-3 over its previous 12 contests with six of those wins coming against teams that are currently below .500. The Rockets will face another such opponent Saturday.

The Wizards (20-24) have fallen below .500 by dropping five of six. A 117-113 loss to Denver on Thursday was their third in a row, one shy of a season high, and they've given up an average of 113.0 points in that skid while being outscored by a combined 46.

"We're waiting to the point of being embarrassed before we start playing hard from a defensive standpoint," coach Randy Wittman said. "Until we take playing defense as first priority, we're going to continue to have nights like this."

The Rockets registered a 109-103 victory in Washington in the first matchup this season Dec. 9. James Harden scored 42 points, his most in the past 27 games, in Houston's 20th win in the past 25 matchups.

The Rockets have won 18 of the last 21 home meetings but lost 104-103 in the most recent Dec. 29, 2014. Washington's Bradley Beal had 33 points, four shy of tying his career high, and made six free throws in the final 1:47.

Harden scored 33 points, and he's averaging 33.5 while shooting 50.0 percent in his last four games against the Wizards. He's gone 12 of 29 from 3-point range in those matchups, and he also had nine rebounds and seven assists in the latest.

Harden is averaging 33.0 points and shooting 52.6 percent in his three home matchups against the Wizards since coming to Houston in 2012-13.

Washington point guard John Wall has a combined 51 points and 24 assists in his last two games against Houston, and fell one rebound shy of a triple-double in the December loss.

Wall, who has six consecutive double-doubles against the Rockets, hasn't fared as well on the scoresheet in four lifetime visits to Houston. He's averaged 15.5 points while shooting 36.7 percent.

Beal has 15 points in each of his last two games against the Rockets while shooting a combined 34.6 percent. He averaged 21.4 points in his first five matchups.

Washington's last four-game losing streak was from Nov. 24-28.

Preview: Kings (20-26) at Grizzlies (27-20)

Date: January 30, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Coach George Karl missed the Sacramento Kings' last game due to a bout of gastroenteritis, and watching his club play defense from afar likely didn't make him feel any better.

Now the Kings could have a difficult time fixing what ails them against a Memphis Grizzlies team riding its best scoring streak in six years.

With Karl uncertain to return to the bench, Sacramento will try to avoid a fourth straight defeat and snap a 10-game losing streak in Memphis on Saturday night.

Associate head coach Chad Iske may have to fill in again after Karl missed Thursday's 114-105 road loss to New Orleans, which was missing Anthony Davis and two other starters.

'We were fighting from behind from the very beginning,' Iske said after the Kings couldn't dig out of a 37-19 first-quarter hole. 'You can't spot people 18 points on their home court.'

Since allowing an average of 96.4 points during a five-game winning streak that moved them into eighth in the Western Conference, the Kings have given up 118.3 over three straight losses.

Sacramento (20-26) won't have it any easier on defense Saturday, trying to avoid its first four-game losing streak since dropping a season-high six in a row Oct. 31-Nov. 9.

The Grizzlies were scoring a West-low 95.9 points per game before averaging 103.0 in winning six of their last seven. They've reached 100 points in regulation in each of those contests for their longest such streak since doing so in eight straight Dec. 18, 2009-Jan. 5, 2010.

'I think it's the way we've been able to move the ball,' said Mike Conley, who had nine of the team's 28 assists in Thursday's 103-83 win over Milwaukee. 'Guys are getting high-percentage looks, and guys are playing very confident right now. They're not hesitant on their jump shots.'

Memphis has a 2.16 assist-to-turnover ratio in the last six games, well above its 1.58 season mark.

Marc Gasol has keyed the surge, averaging 21.5 points over the past six games. He insists the Grizzlies (27-20) are still built on the defensive end after they limited the Bucks to 36.7 percent from the field.

'It's about not giving up a hundred,' the center said. 'It's not about what we get.'

Gasol has totaled only 16 points in his last two games versus Sacramento, but the Grizzlies won both and have taken 18 of the past 21 meetings. They've averaged 107.0 points while limiting the Kings to 93.7 during their home winning streak in the series which dates back to Feb. 20, 2009.

Memphis has won 11 of 12 at home, including five straight as Jeff Green has averaged 20.2 points. He's averaged 8.4 in his last five road games. Green has totaled 51 points through two games of a homestand which ends Saturday.

The Kings are wrapping up a three-game trip on which DeMarcus Cousins has shot 15 of 45. He missed a 103-89 home loss to Memphis on Nov. 3 due to an Achilles injury and hasn't played in four of the last six meetings. Cousins is averaging 32.6 points in his last 14 games, but his 15.5 career average versus the Grizzlies is his lowest against any opponent.

Rajon Rondo can set a franchise record by reaching double digits in assists for a 15th straight game, but he's only averaged 3.6 over his past five against the Grizzlies. It won't help his cause if former Memphis forward Rudy Gay is out for a second straight game due to a corneal abrasion.

Preview: Spurs (39-7) at Cavaliers (33-12)

Date: January 30, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

Though they won't be taking part in next month's All-Star Game, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving played like they belonged in the Cleveland Cavaliers' latest victory.

Tyronn Lue will be there, and the Cavaliers' newly named coach will have a chance to match wits with his counterpart for the Feb. 14 extravaganza when Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs visit Cleveland for Saturday night's marquee matchup.

The NBA's decision to appoint Lue, who's just four games into his tenure, as the Eastern Conference's coach has sparked a mild controversy. It's hard to argue with his recent job performance, however, with Cleveland (33-12) having won three straight following last Saturday's 96-83 home loss to Chicago in Lue's debut in place of the fired David Blatt.

Lue's initiative for a more up-tempo offense appears to be paying off with the Cavaliers averaging 114.3 points over the streak. It certainly benefited both Love and Irving in Friday's 114-106 win at Detroit, as Love's 29 points were his most since Nov. 23 and Irving went 11 of 19 for 28 points, his second-highest total in 19 games since returning from a fractured kneecap.

'We always talk about, it starts and ends with the 'Big Three,' and those two guys got it done,' said LeBron James, who added 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and will be Cleveland's lone All-Star player representative.

Irving is averaging 16.0 shot attempts in Lue's four games after a request from his new coach to play more aggressively.

"I just want him to attack," Lue said. "Attack first and if it opens up to an assist, then we'll make the play. But I just don't think nobody can stop him one-on-one, so I just want him to get back to being confident and playing the way he's capable of playing."

Cleveland's surging offense will get a tougher test from San Antonio (39-7), the NBA's leader in scoring defense (90.6 points per game) and second in defensive field-goal percentage (42.7). The Cavaliers are 23-2 when recording over 100 points and a pedestrian 10-10 when under that mark.

The Cavaliers started strong when the two powerhouses met in San Antonio on Jan. 14, opening up a 15-point first-quarter lead. The Spurs clamped down thereafter and used a 13-0 run early in the fourth to earn a 99-95 victory, their 11th in the last 12 matchups.

San Antonio also showed resiliency in its last outing, bouncing back from Monday's 120-90 loss at Golden State with Wednesday's 130-99 rout of Houston. The Spurs produced their highest-scoring total of the season by shooting 55.6 percent overall and going 12 of 23 from 3-point range.

'We were very motivated,' said point guard Tony Parker, who had a game-high 24 points against Cleveland two weeks ago. 'Still a little bit mad about what happened, but you have to forget it as fast as you can and learn from it. (Wednesday) it was great reaction from everybody.'

LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting and added 10 rebounds against Houston. The All-Star forward was held to 12 points over his previous two games while missing another with back spasms.

Danny Green continued his hot shooting, finishing 6 of 8 from 3 while matching a season high with 18 points. He's 25 of 50 from beyond the arc in 12 January games after making just 30.1 percent over his first 34.

The Spurs won't have Tim Duncan for a third consecutive game, however, as the 39-year-old continues to deal with a right knee injury.

Inside the Paint - Saturday
By Chris David

Cleveland (32-12 SU, 19-23-2 ATS) has a chance to silence the critics on Saturday night when they meet San Antonio (39-7 SU, 30-15-1 ATS) at home in a nationally televised battle on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET.

In this same spot last week, the Cavaliers dropped a 96-83 decision to the Bulls as 10 ½-point home favorites, which came a day after the club fired head coach David Blatt.

Since that setback, the Cavs have rebounded with three straight wins (2-1 ATS) under head coach Tyronn Lue albeit against the Timberwolves, Suns and Pistons. The offense has looked much sharper during the winning streak, posting 114, 115 and 114 points.

Last night’s win at Detroit (114-106) could have some bettors citing fatigue on Saturday versus the Spurs. Make a note that Cleveland has gone 5-3 SU and 3-4-1 ATS in back-to-back situations this season while the ‘under’ has posted a 6-2 mark.

Playing against the Spurs is a major step up in class and the Cavs hung with them a few weeks ago in San Antonio. Cleveland wound up losing 99-95 at the AT&T Center but it did cover as a six-point underdog.

Including this win, San Antonio has gone 17-3 SU and 13-7 ATS versus the Eastern Conference this season. The three setbacks all came on the road and coincidentally the margin was three in all of the games as well (Wizards, Bulls, Raptors). The ‘under’ has gone 11-8-1.

Despite owning a 12-5 SU and 8-8-1 ATS mark versus the West, It’s well known that the Cavs are 0-3 versus the Warriors and Spurs this season and the recent 132-98 drubbing at home on Jan. 18 to Golden State is what everybody remembers.

Will San Antonio hand out similar treatment to the Cavs after a close call in the first go ‘round?

Even though center Tim Duncan (knee) has been ruled ‘out’ for Saturday’s game, the Spurs are listed as short road favorites (-2) over the Cavaliers. San Antonio has gone 8-1 without the future Hall of Famer in the lineup this season.

This will be the first team Cleveland is an underdog at home this season and fifth time overall. The Cavs have gone 1-3 SU and 3-1 ATS when put into this role this season and the ‘under’ has cashed in all four games.

The total on this game opened at 206 ½ and has dropped to 204 ½ as of Saturday morning.

Along with the Spurs-Cavs matchup on Saturday, we do have six other games slated and below is my quick handicap.

Golden State at Philadelphia (NBATV, 5:00 p.m. ET): The Warriors and 76ers will partake in this week’s “Global Game” and while I’d normally think the time change could screw up a team, this is Golden State. The 76ers actually gave the Warriors a game at home last season and only lost 89-84 as 16-point ‘dogs. The spread is a tad higher (GSW -17 ½) this time around and this will the highest total (218) that Philadelphia has seen all season.

Detroit at Toronto: This is a really good matchup and it will be the first meeting between the pair this season. Last year, they split the four-game series with each club stealing one victory on the road. The Raptors enter this game with a 10-game winning streak (8-2 ATS) and they’re catching Detroit on no rest. Stan Van Gundy’s team is 3-6 SU and 3-5-1 ATS in B2B games and that includes a dreadful 0-6 and 0-5-1 ATS mark as visitors. Total bettors should note that the ‘over’ has gone 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in this series, and that includes four easy shootouts last season. Saturday’s number is 203 ½ and Toronto is a 7 ½-point favorite.

Brooklyn at New Orleans: Possible trap game for the Pelicans, who have won and covered six of their last eight. Thursday’s 114-105 home win over Sacramento was impressive since New Orleans was short-handed (Tyreke Evans, Anthony Davis) but when the Pelicans hit their shots, they can play with anybody. The offense is on a roll, averaging 110.9 PPG during this run and that’s helped the ‘over’ go 7-1. Why is the game a trap? The Nets aren’t the same without Jarret Jack at point guard but they still have a few pros and you just never know. Brooklyn is playing on no rest and it’s struggled to a 2-6 mark (5-3 ATS) in this role. Keep an eye on the latest injury report since Evans and Davis are both listed as ‘questionable’ for Saturday.

Denver at Indiana: These teams played a wild game two weeks ago in Denver and the Nuggets captured a 129-126 win over the Pacers as 2 ½-point home underdogs. Denver has played well against Indiana recently, winning eight of the last 10 encounters and three of the last four on the road. The Nuggets have been in great form at the betting counter recently, going 8-2 versus the number despite a 5-5 record. Head coach Mike Malone has the team playing fast and they’ve developed some nice young players. Indiana snapped out of its funk Thursday with a double-digit win over Atlanta and it will be trying to win back-to-back games for the first time in three weeks on Saturday. Indiana is listed as an eight-point favorite and that seems high, probably for the right reason. The total is 208 ½.

Sacramento at Memphis: I talked about the Grizzlies in Thursday’s edition of ITP and how their power ratings were down this season but they silenced the oddsmakers again with another victory. Memphis has quietly won eight of its last 10 games and it’s covered six of them, but a few of those tickets were very fortunate to cash. The Kings are acting like the Kings again and they enter this game on a three-game losing skid both SU and ATS. Since losing a tough 129-128 double overtime loss on Monday to the Hornets at home, Sacramento has looked awful in its next two games. This is the last game of their road trip and the Kings confidence might not be high for this tip knowing that they’re just 1-9 in their previous 10 meetings against the Grizzlies. Once again, the line on Memphis (-2 ½) seems super short and the total (203 ½) can be considered low for Sacramento’s pace. Rudy Gay is expected to play for the Kings.

Washington at Houston: The Rockets (-3) are short favorites and that tells you that the Wizards will have a shot to win this game but can you really trust either team? Washington is 1-5 both SU and ATS in its last six and I’m surprised they haven’t changed coaches yet, something Houston has done. That hasn’t made a difference for the Rockets either and they enter this game off back-to-back losses, which includes Friday’s 116-108 loss at Oklahoma City. The Rockets are 5-6 SU and 4-7 ATS on zero days rest and that includes a 2-2 mark at home. In those four games, the ‘over’ cashed in all four and I’d probably lean to the high side in this game with two weak defensive units on the court. Houston defeated Washington 109-103 on Dec. 9 as a 4 ½-point road favorite on Dec. 9 and the combined 212 points barely snuck ‘under’ the closing total of 214.

NBA Odds: Saturday, January 30 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

Sometimes when I speak with people who know nothing about sports betting, usually women, they don't understand anything about spreads or moneylines. "Why can't you just bet on which team wins?" I'm often asked. Exhibit No. 1 for why you need a spread in a game is on Saturday evening when we will see probably the third-biggest spread all season as the NBA's best team, record-setting Golden State, visits the league's worst, Philadelphia. I wonder if there will even be a moneyline on this utter mismatch. If there's ever a time where Coach Steve Kerr will give one or two of his guys the night off, you'd think it would be here. Although that would be a crime for those Sixers fans who have little reason to attend home games but surely will sell this one out in Steph Curry's only appearance. If you are wondering, Philly visits Golden State on March 27. That probably will be the biggest spread of the year. From what I can gather, the biggest spread in the NBA since 1990 was Phoenix at -24 against Dallas in March 1993. The Suns were 45-13 entering that one and Dallas 4-54 and on a 16-game losing streak. Phoenix won 116-98.

Warriors at 76ers (+19, 216)

Golden State won its fifth straight, all by double digits, 127-107 over visiting Dallas on Wednesday. Curry was relatively quiet with 14 points, but Klay Thompson had a season-high 45 points. He was 14-for-20 from the field in his sixth career 40-point game. The Warriors had 30 assists for a fifth straight game, the first team to do so since the 1994-95 Magic. Backup center Festus Ezeli sat out with a sore knee. Pretty sure he won't be needed here. Philly lost 110-97 in Detroit on Wednesday, failing again to win two in a row for the first time. Jahlil Okafor and JaKarr Sampson both missed their second straight game with the flu, but I'm sure they will play here. The Warriors have won four straight in the series, but the game in Philly was very close last season.

Key trends: Golden State has covered only two of its past 10 vs. the East. Philly is 5-0 against the spread in its past five after a loss. The "over/under" has gone under in six of the past eight meetings.

Early lean: Fairly surprised this isn't a point or two higher actually. I'll take the points.

Pistons at Raptors (-7.5, 204.5)

Detroit hosted Cleveland on Friday. Toronto wasn't sure if All-Star guard Kyle Lowry would play Thursday night against the visiting Knicks with a wrist injury, but he did and Toronto won 103-93 to set a franchise record with its 10th straight win. Lowry looked just fine with 26 points and 10 assists, and fellow All-Star DeMar DeRozan also had 26 points. Toronto leads the Eastern Conference with an 11-2 record in January. It's the first meeting of the season between these teams. They split last year. The Raptors have won four of the past six at home.

Key trends: The road team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The over is 5-0 in those past five.

Early lean: Raptors and over.

Nuggets at Pacers (-8, 207.5)

Denver ended a two-game skid with a 117-113 win in Washington on Thursday. Danilo Gallinari had 26 points and Emmanuel Mudiay was better than John Wall with 20 points. The Nuggets played without big man Joffrey Luvergne due to a toe injury. Indiana ended a three-game losing streak with a 111-92 home win over Atlanta on Thursday. The Pacers finished the game on a 23-2 run. Coach Frank Vogel moved rookie Myles Turner into the starting lineup to shake things up, and Turner had 20 points and six rebounds. Denver is looking for a second straight season sweep with Indiana after winning 129-126 at home on Jan. 17. Randy Foye hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 21 seconds left.

Key trends: The Nuggets are 6-2-1 ATS in the past nine meetings. The over is 8-3 in the past 11.

Early lean: Pacers and over.

Nets at Pelicans (TBA)

Brooklyn was in Dallas on Friday. New Orleans won for a fourth time in five games on Thursday, all at home, beating the Kings 114-105. Ryan Anderson, who has been rumored as a trade candidate, tied a career high with 36 points and Jrue Holiday added 25 points. I didn't see that result coming because the Pelicans were without both Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans. I'd say Davis is less likely here with his concussion. The Pelicans swept last year, and Davis played in one of those two. New Orleans shot a combined .516 from the field in the wins.

Key trends: The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The over is 7-0 in New Orleans' past seven overall.

Early lean: If those two Pelicans sit out again, go under regardless of number.

Wizards at Rockets (-3, 215.5)

Houston was in Oklahoma City on Friday. I'm not sure how Randy Wittman still has a job for Washington, which lost a third straight on Thursday, 117-113 to the visiting Nuggets. John Wall was just 5-for-17 from the field. The Wizards had seven players in double figures but still lost. Oh, and Denver was on the second of a back-to-back. Wizards forward Otto Porter is iffy here after leaving with a hip issue. Bradley Beal did return after missing one game with a concussion and broken nose. He wore a mask and had 17 points. Houston won in D.C. 109-103 on Dec. 9. James Harden had 42 points.

Key trends: The underdog is 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings. The over is 14-3 in Houston's past 17 overall.

Early lean: Rockets and over.

Kings at Grizzlies (TBA)

Every time I think the Kings have things figured out, they go back in the tank. Sacramento has lost three straight and allowed 112 points minimum in each. On Thursday it was 114-105 to a Pelicans team missing its two best players. DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings, who fell behind by 18 points in the first quarter. Coach George Karl missed the game with an illness but should return here. Memphis won a second straight Thursday, blowing out the Bucks by 20. The improved the Grizzlies to 19-4 this season against teams with a losing record. Memphis has won 10 straight at home in the series.

Key trends: The road team is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings. The under is 4-0 in the past four.

Early lean: TBA for Rudy Gay again but I'm not sure he's that important. Grizzlies will win.

Spurs at Cavaliers (+2.5, 205)

This is the ABC Saturday night national TV game and will have live betting at sportsbooks. It's also an All-Star Game preview of sorts as Gregg Popovich will coach the West with Golden State's Steve Kerry ineligible to do so a second straight season (still say Luke Walton should have gotten the nod); Cleveland Tyronn Lue will coach the East even though he just replaced the fired David Blatt. The Cavaliers were in Detroit on Friday. San Antonio destroyed Houston 130-99 on Wednesday again without Tim Duncan and there's supposedly no timetable for his return, but I don't trust a thing Popovich says. The Spurs beat the visiting Cavs 99-95 on Jan. 14. Tony Parker led San Antonio with 24 points. LeBron James had 22 for Cleveland. The Cavs got only 12 points from their bench.

Key trends: The road team is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings. The under is 5-1 in the Cavs' past six in the second of a back-to-back.

Early lean: This actually opened as a pick'em. Cavs and under.