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German Bundesliga TODAY 19:30

Mainz

v

B Munich

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT S		9	19/4	2/7	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAINZ	RECENT FORM
H WA LA LH WA DA L​ Most recent​	0 - 3 1 - 2 0 - 2 0 - 3	A WA WH DA LA LH W​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Ten of Mainz’s 12 league games this season have produced over 2.5 goals

EXPERT VERDICT: A workmanlike 2-1 win over Leverkusen was welcome in Munich following back-to-back losses in Dortmund and Rostov, but it did little to calm nerves. Carlo Ancelotti’s men aren’t at their fluent best though they’ll get chances at Mainz, where there is rarely a dull game and this should be high-scoring with goals at both ends.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
3

Italian Serie A TODAY 19:45

Napoli

v

Inter

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT3		17/20	11/4	16/5	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT NAPOLI	RECENT FORM
A LA DH DA WH DH D​ Most recent​	0 - 2 2 - 1 2 - 2 1 - 0	A LA LH WA DA LH W​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Inter have scored in eight of their last nine away games

EXPERT VERDICT: Inter seem to be heading in the right direction since Stefano Pioli’s appointment as head coach and can register back-to-back wins for only the second time this season. The Nerazzurri have scored 11 goals in their last four matches and can cause problems for Napoli, who have won just one of their last six home fixtures.

RECOMMENDATION: Inter
1

Spanish La Liga Sa 3Dec 12:00

Granada

v

Seville

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS3		15/4	5/2	4/5	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT GRANADA	RECENT FORM
H DA LH DA DA LH W​ Most recent​	2 - 1 1 - 1 1 - 2 1 - 2	H WH LA WH LH WA W​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Granada are winless from their 13 La Liga matches this term

EXPERT VERDICT: Seville have seemingly put their dismal away form behind them after claiming seven points in their last three matches on the road and they can extend that run at Granada. The visitors, who trail league leaders Real Madrid by six points, have flourished under manager Jorge Sampaoli this term losing just two of their last 13 La Liga matches, while struggling Granada are yet to win this season.

RECOMMENDATION: Seville
2

Spanish La Liga Sa 3Dec 15:15

Barcelona

v

Real Madrid

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		5/6	16/5	16/5	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT BARCELONA	RECENT FORM
A LA WH DA WA DA D​ Most recent​	1 - 2 2 - 1 1 - 2 2 - 1	A DH WA WA WH WH W​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Both teams have scored in 19 of the 20 Clasico meetings

EXPERT VERDICT: Goals are almost guaranteed when these giants of the game meet and it should be no different at Camp Nou with Barcelona trying to eat into Real Madrid’s six-point advantage in La Liga. Lionel Messi has scored 19 goals in 16 outings for Barca this term and is the man most likely to break the deadlock.

RECOMMENDATION: L Messi first goalscorer
1

Spanish La Liga Sa 3Dec 17:30

Leganes

v

Villarreal

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SSMI		14/5	19/10	5/4	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LEGANES	RECENT FORM
A LH LA LH WA LH L​ Most recent​	Unknown	H LH WA LA DH LA W​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Villarreal have drawn three of their last six away matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Leganes are struggling to match their promising early-season start as La Liga’s joint worst attack inches closer to the relegation zone. However, the hosts have remained competitive in home encounters with Atletico, Seville and Barcelona, while Villarreal, who have won just once in seven away matches, are failing to convince on their travels.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

German Bundesliga Sa 3Dec 17:30

RB Leipzig

v

Schalke

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT3		Evs	23/10	3	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT RB LEIPZIG	RECENT FORM
A WH WA WH WA WA W​ Most recent​	Unknown	A DH WH WA WH WH W​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Schalke are unbeaten in 12 matches

EXPERT VERDICT: High-flying Leipzig continue to pass each and every test. A thumping triumph at Freiburg was their seventh win in a row, but Schalke will test their resolve. Recovering from a dismal start to the season in which they lost their first five matches, they’re unbeaten in seven in the league, perfect in Europe and are confident enough to spring a surprise.

RECOMMENDATION: Schalke
2

Preview: Wild (11-8) at Flames (11-13)

Date: December 02, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

CALGARY, Alberta -- The Minnesota Wild were great in October but fell to slightly below average in November and begin December in Alberta trying to turn things around.

The Wild surrendered a lead for the third time in six games Tuesday in Vancouver, prompting frustrated head coach Bruce Boudreau to cancel a day off on Wednesday in Calgary and replace it with a 70-minute practice.

"We have to be better, that's it," right wing Jason Pominville said after the 5-4 loss to the Canucks. "Obviously, we are disappointed. We're not happy with the result we got. We have to take a couple of days here, get some rest, get some practice and get back to work."

After starting the season with a 6-2-1 October, the Wild slid to a 5-6-2 November, and they begin shopping for pre-Christmas victories Friday against the surging Calgary Flames.

"We'll regroup," Boudreau said. "We have two days before our next game and two practices before our next game. We'll see where we stand."

Wednesday's practice focused mostly on how to avoid odd-man rushes, which was a big part of the Vancouver game. Boudreau called out the line of Zach Parise, Eric Staal and Charlie Coyle for their misdeeds, and Parise took ownership when he stood in front of media in Calgary.

"We didn't support each other very much up the ice, turned the puck over a lot in the offensive zone," he told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "It was just one of those games. We couldn't get much going. It happens."

Boudreau spoke to that line about doing better.

"They're good players and they're all professional and they're going to get back on track. We'd like to see, and we haven't seen it too often, that all the lines are going at the same time. ... They're good players. It's a good team. We'll find out way again Friday," he said.

Coyle offered this after Thursday's practice: "We've got to be ready to come out right away and get to our game fast."

While the Wild were trying to sort through their problems while awaiting Friday's game, the Flames were continuing to ride the hot goaltending of Chad Johnson, who stopped 39 shots to blank the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Johnson was brought to Calgary to back up Brian Elliott, but he has taken over the No. 1 role by going 6-2-0 with three shutouts and a 1.50 goals-against-average in his last eight starts. He became the first Flames goaltender to record three shutouts in one month since Fred Braithwaite did it in December 1999.

The Flames returned home after playing six games in nine nights and going 3-2-1. They are now 11-13-2 and within sight of .500 thanks to Johnson.

"He was fantastic," Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan said. "We were a tired hockey club. (The Leafs) are in there back-to-back, I understand that, but six in nine nights and coming back home from New York, we were a tired club. I loved our start and then when you get a goaltending performance that Johnny gives us, it gives you a chance."

The Flames begun the Johnny Gaudreau watch in earnest recently. The star winger returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since breaking a finger on a slash from Staal in Minnesota on Nov. 15. The Flames said then he'd be out four to six weeks and he's now in his third week of recovery.

Calgary are 5-3-1 without Gaudreau.

"We said when Johnny was injured that this was a chance for us to solidify and come together and have other guys step up and solidify a good defensive base," Gulutzan said.

"Do we get away from that at times, certainly we do. But, we're coming together and learning how to play and learning how to reduce the goals against."

Preview: Canadiens (16-5) at Sharks (14-9)

Date: December 02, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

California has not proven to a be a preferred getaway destination for the Montreal Canadiens in recent years, especially when they visit the "Shark Tank."

The Canadiens look to end a long winless streak in The Golden State and earn their first win at the SAP Center in more than 17 years when they face the San Jose Sharks on Friday night in a matchup of division leaders.

Montreal, which sits atop the Atlantic, has gone 0-6-2 in Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose since topping the Ducks in a shootout on March 5, 2014. Also, after its last win on Nov. 23, 1999, Montreal is 0-7-2 in San Jose, having been outscored 37-17 and blanked three times.

The Canadiens have allowed 11 power-play goals in 35 chances to the Sharks following their last northern California win.

"I guess it's time for a change," defenseman Shea Weber told the Montreal Gazette.

Over the first 15 games this season, the Canadiens were conjuring up images of dominant teams that would go on to lift the Stanley Cup 24 times.

Montreal charged out to a 13-1-1 start, scoring at least three goals in all but two games. Five players -- Weber, Alex Galchenyuk, Alexander Radulov, Max Pacioretty, and Paul Byron -- combined for 23 goals and 40 assists, with Galchenyuk and Weber each scoring six goals. Byron, who's never had more than 11 in a season, chipped in with five.

Over their last eight contests, the offense has dried up as Montreal has gone 3-4-1 and been held to two goals or less six times. The five players who powered the Habs' offense early on have totaled 10 goals and 12 assists since their hot starts.

The lack of offense was evident again Tuesday night when the Canadiens opened the California portion of their five-game road trip. Andrew Shaw helped Montreal avoid its second shutout of the season by scoring with two minutes to play in a 2-1 loss to the Ducks. It was also the Habs' sixth straight game decided by one goal.

"We have to figure out a way to score," coach Michel Therrien told the Montreal Gazette. "We had 40 shots ... and we had some quality scoring chances, but we couldn't put the puck in the net."

San Jose (14-9-1) enters play with a three-point lead over Anaheim and the Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific, and returns home looking for its sixth win in seven games after defeating Los Angeles 4-1 on Wednesday behind two goals and an assist from Logan Couture.

Couture has been red-hot over the last six games with five goals and two assists. Brent Burns also has seven points over that span, including three goals. Both players are tied for the team lead with nine goals while Burns and Joe Pavelski each have a team-best 21 points.

Couture has scored 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in seven career games against the Canadiens. In four home games versus Montreal, Couture has two goals and five assists to help the Sharks go 4-0-0.

Barring injury or anything unforeseen, the game will feature two of the NHL's top goalies in Montreal's Carey Price and San Jose's Martin Jones.

Price, who stopped 36 shots against Anaheim, is expected to make his sixth straight start, and he told the Canadiens' official website what the team needs to do to end their San Jose skid.

"If we have puck support and we keep moving out feet, we make it difficult on teams. That's kind of our forte. We have to get back to that," he said.

Price is 13-2-1 with a 1.68 goals-against average, .947 save percentage and two shutouts. He's 0-3-1 over four career starts in San Jose with a GAA just under 4.

Jones is 12-8-1 with a 2.04 GAA, with a .921 save percentage and he also has two shutouts in 2016-17. He's faced Montreal four times in his career with San Jose and Los Angeles, recording a 3-1-0 record with a 2.25 GAA, .911 save percentage and one shutout.

"He's always been comfortable. He's always been calm. He's elite. He's a pretty experienced guy. He's always been good," Burns said of Jones.

Grand Salami - December

The Grand Salami in pro hockey is decided by adding up all the goals scored in every game scheduled for that particular day. You can wager on 'over' or 'under' the Grand Salami total. The total is set by adding up all listed 'over/under' odds for each game on that particular day.

Note: The Grand Salami will have no action if any game is suspended or cancelled before the regulation time of three twenty minute periods. Also, regardless of the number of goals scored during the shoot out portion of the overtime, the final scored recorded for the game will give the winning team on more goal than its opponent based on the score at the end of regulation time.

*The majority of sportsbooks do not put out a total on the Grand Salami when there is only one game on the card. For tracking purposes, we will continue to show the 'over/under' for goals and combined goals scored on days with just one game.

NHL GRAND SALAMI
Date No. of Games Total Goals Combined Goals Scored Result
12/1 12 64.5 70 OVER
12/2 2 - - -
12/3 12 - - -
12/4 7 - - -
12/5 4 - - -
12/6 9 - - -
12/7 4 - - -
12/8 10 - - -
12/9 6 - - -
12/10 10 - - -
12/11 8 - - -
12/12 2 - - -
12/13 10 - - -
12/14 4 - - -
12/15 8 - - -
12/16 7 - - -
12/17 10 - - -
12/18 6 - - -
12/19 5 - - -
12/20 12 - - -
12/21 2 - - -
12/22 10 - - -
12/23 12 - - -
12/24 No games scheduled - - -
12/25 No games scheduled - - -
12/26 No games scheduled - - -
12/27 10 - - -
12/28 5 - - -
12/29 12 - - -
12/30 4 - - -
12/31 11 - - -

NHL

Friday’s games

Flames won last two games with Minnesota, after losing previous six; road team won five of last seven series games. Wild won last three games in Saddledome, allowing total of five goals. Over is 5-3-2 in last ten series games. Minnesota lost its last three road games, all by one goal; their last three games went over. Calgary is 6-4 in its last ten games; four of its last five stayed under the total.

Sharks won six of their last seven games with Montreal; under is 8-2 in last ten series games. Canadiens lost last five visits here, outscored 21-7. Montreal is 3-5 in its last eight games, 1-2 in its last three on road- four of their last five games stayed under. San Jose won five of last six games, four of last five at home; under is 3-0-3 in Sharks’ last six games.

NBA roundup: Rockets top Warriors in 2nd OT
By The Sports Xchange

OAKLAND, Calif. -- James Harden converted two free throws and Eric Gordon added an interior hoop following a flagrant foul on Draymond Green, propelling the Houston Rockets to a 132-127 double-overtime victory that ended the Golden State Warriors' 12-game winning streak Thursday night.
Harden finished with a 29-point, 15-rebound, 13-assist triple-double for the Rockets, who had lost eight in a row to the Warriors.
Ryan Anderson matched Harden's team-high point total with 29, and Gordon chipped in with 23 off the bench for Houston, which must endure the second night of a back-to-back Friday at Denver.
Kevin Durant had 39 points and 13 rebounds for Golden State, which lost for the first time since Nov. 4. Stephen Curry finished with 28 points before fouling out for the first time since Dec. 13, 2013. Draymond Green added 20 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists.

Clippers 113, Cavaliers 94
CLEVELAND -- Blake Griffin scored 13 points and passed for a season-high 11 assists as Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Cleveland.
J.J. Redick scored 23 points, DeAndre Jordan grabbed 15 rebounds, and Chris Paul recorded 16 points and nine assists on a night when the Clippers registered a season-high 33 assists. It was the type of performance coach Doc Rivers was hoping for following an embarrassing double-overtime loss at the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.
The Cavaliers' struggles, meanwhile, continue. Kyrie Irving scored 28 points and LeBron James scored 16 points, but Cleveland had only 12 assists while committing 18 turnovers. It was the Cavs' most lopsided loss of the season.

Grizzlies 95, Orlando 94
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis rallied from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit and Marc Gasol scored the winning points at the free-throw line.
Gasol finished with a team-high 25 points and added five blocks and three assists. He hit the foul shots with 12.2 seconds left, giving the Grizzlies their first lead of the quarter.
Evan Fournier led the Magic with 28 points and handed out four assists. He also stopped the Grizzlies' 13-0 run in the fourth quarter when he hit a 3-pointer to hike the Magic's lead back to 88-84 with 3:04 to play.

Bucks 111, Nets 93
NEW YORK -- Giannis Antetokounmpo totaled 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as Milwaukee took control in the third quarter and pulled away.
Jabari Parker added 22 for the Bucks, who beat Brooklyn for the 13th time in 17 meetings and won for the fourth time in five games since a three-point loss to the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 19.
Brook Lopez led the Nets with 15 points but misfired on 8 of 12 shots. Sean Kilpatrick followed up his career-high 38-point night against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday by adding 14 but missed five of his last six shots.

Hornets 97, Mavericks 87
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kemba Walker scored 18 points with two clutch 3-pointers down the stretch and Charlotte never trailed.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 14 points for the Hornets. Lamb and Nicolas Batum finished with 12 apiece, and Roy Hibbert scored 11.
Dallas (3-15) lost for the 10th time in 11 games. The Mavericks own the NBA's worst record and are off to the worst start through 18 games in franchise history. Harrison Barnes led Dallas with 17 points and Justin Anderson scored 15.

Heat 111, Jazz 110
SALT LAKE CITY -- Goran Dragic scored 27 points and James Johnson added 24 off the bench to help Miami escape with a victory over Utah.
Wayne Ellington added 17 points off the bench for the Heat. Miami weathered a late Jazz comeback to earn its third straight road victory.
Gordon Hayward scored a season-high 32 points -- his second consecutive game with at least 30 points -- and Joe Johnson added 18 to lead Utah. Joe Ingles added 15 points and Trey Lyles chipped in 14 for the Jazz.

Preview: Magic (7-12) at 76ers (4-14)

Date: December 02, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Orlando Magic will be looking to break their slump when they visit the well-rested Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

The Magic fell to 7-12 with their fifth loss in six games Thursday night, a 95-94 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies in which Orlando frittered away a 13-point lead in the final 6:12.

Memphis center Marc Gasol drained the go-ahead free throws with 12.2 seconds left, and Elfrid Payton turned the ball over on Orlando's final possession. In all, the Grizzlies outscored the Magic 24-10 down the stretch to erase an 84-71 deficit.

"Everything about this loss is disappointing," coach Frank Vogel told the Orlando Sentinel.

The Magic dropped four straight, three of those at home to sub-.500 teams, before winning Tuesday night in San Antonio. They were, however, unable to capitalize on that momentum against a Memphis team that just lost its best player, guard Mike Conley, to a back injury.

"It hurts, man," Magic guard/forward Evan Fournier told the Sentinel. "Hurts bad. They just played more aggressive than us the last five minutes. That's how they got back into the game."

The Sixers (4-14) have been off since losing Monday in Toronto. Wednesday's scheduled home game against Sacramento was postponed because of moisture on the Wells Fargo Center floor.

Before the postponement, the Sixers (4-14) announced that rookie center Joel Embiid's minutes restriction was being increased from 24 to 28 per game. Embiid, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, missed two seasons while recovering from a pair of foot surgeries. He will still not play both games in a back-to-back set, however.

It was announced Thursday that he will be available Friday against the Magic, meaning he will not see the court when the Boston Celtics visit on Saturday.

Embiid, named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month on Thursday, leads the Sixers (and all NBA rookies) in scoring (18.2), rebounding (7.8), blocked shots (2.4) and 3-point percentage (.500).

He said the minutes bump came after a CT scan Monday showed his right foot is holding up well to the rigors of NBA play.

"I'm happy that those (medical) guys trust me and I'm able to play more minutes," he said, "and I'm going to make the most out of it."

Philadelphia coach Brett Brown pronounced himself "giddy" with the change in Embiid's availability. The team previously said it would not reevaluate Embiid's minutes restriction until Christmas.

"There is constant evaluation of him," Brown said. "The most recent one of him (Tuesday) showed that everything is good."

Nerlens Noel, who has yet to play this season following minor knee surgery in October, practiced on Wednesday with the Delaware 87ers, Philadelphia's NBA Development League team, then went through drills with the Sixers on Thursday.

He told Calkins Media he is close to returning to action, but Brown told the same outlet Noel is "a ways away" from a return.

Veteran guard Jerryd Bayless has also missed the last two games with a sore left wrist.

Preview: Lakers (10-10) at Raptors (12-6)

Date: December 02, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

TORONTO -- After the Toronto Raptors were pushed to the limit before defeating the depleted Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, coach Dwane Casey is urging his team to put up a "defensive presence" from the start of their game Friday against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.

If the Raptors were caught underestimating a Grizzlies team that was hit by absences to key players, they plan to be ready for the Lakers, who are coming off a 96-90 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

"They're playing well right now with a lot of confidence," Casey said of the Lakers on Thursday. "A very talented offensive team."

"Our guys have proven that when their backs are against the wall they can step up for a challenge," Lakers coach Luke Walton said. "They did it (Wednesday night). That's a great win against a very good team. Held them to I think 35 percent from the field shooting, which is all we talked about pregame, was defense. That's it. Defense. If you're committed to the defensive end on basketball, you always give yourself a chance."

Both teams are in the middle of busy schedules. The Lakers (10-10) are playing their third game in four nights during a stretch in which they will play four games in five days, all on the road.

The Raptors (12-6) are playing the second in stretch of three games in four nights, all at home as they enjoy a six-game homestand.

Los Angeles will be without shooting guard Nick Young, who suffered a strained right calf muscle in the loss to the Pelicans in New Orleans on Tuesday. He will be out from two to four weeks.

Young likely would have been guarding Toronto's top scorer, shooting guard DeMar DeRozan.

"We put Nick on the other team's best player a lot this year," Walton said. "And he's done a great job making them work. So it's not just the shooting we're going to miss. We're definitely going to miss his defense, the energy he brings. The confidence his teammates get when he hits good shots. We're going to miss a lot."

Rookie Brandon Ingram played in Young's place in Chicago.

Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell is expected to miss at least another week with a left-knee injury.

The 120-105 score in the Raptors' win over the Grizzlies does not indicate the way the game played out. Memphis pulled within one point of Toronto with 9:10 to play before it began to miss shots and turn the ball over.

The Raptors were given a boost by 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench by guard Cory Joseph as they won their fourth game in a row.

"I thought his energy rubbed off (on his teammates) late in the game," Casey said Thursday. "Because the first part of the game we were in a malaise as far as focus and energy. I think he came in a got us going. And Pat (Patrick Patterson, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds) came in and got us going ... with his defense and energy."

Los Angeles brings familiar faces in former Raptors guards Jose Calderon and Lou Williams.

Williams leads the Lakers in scoring at 16.7 points while DeRozan is averaging 28.9 to pace Toronto.

The Raptors are 6-3 a home and Los Angeles 4-8 on the road.

Preview: Kings (7-11) at Celtics (10-8)

Date: December 02, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

DeMarcus Cousins will be on the floor at TD Garden Friday night, but it will be for the Sacramento Kings instead of the Boston Celtics.

Boston fans have had visions of the enigmatic big man dancing in their heads, hoping the never-ending talk of him coming to Boston as the final piece of the Celtics puzzle becomes reality.

Wednesday night in Philadelphia, Cousins, having a terrific season for the 7-11 Kings, did his best to mop the floor and make the game in Philadelphia playable. It was called off.

"I was trying to play," Cousins said, adding he'd "never seen the floor in conditions like that," and that "player safety should be considered first."

Cousins had reasons to want to play. First of all, it was a chance to face the lowly Sixers. Second, he's been on fire, coming off a loss at Washington where he had 36 points, 20 rebounds, four assists and two steals.

He is averaging 28.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and three assists per game and, over the last three, Cousins has a 35.3 scoring average while grabbing 13.3 rebounds per game.

While Al Horford has added a big body to the Boston attack, he is not the inside presence that can deter a big body like Cousins.

On Wednesday night, Detroit big man Andre Drummond scored 20 points and hauled down 17 rebounds and the Pistons outboarded the Celtics 50-33 in their second road win in as many nights.

The Pistons were on fire all night and came within one Ish Smith point of having all five starters score 20 points in the game.

"I think we have to get a little more nastier on the defensive end," offered Boston's Jae Crowder after Wednesday's loss. "Not let a team come in and get comfortable. It has not been an ongoing thing. It happened today and it happened a couple games but, for the most part, we've been trying to impose our will first. That's what our mindset is and that's the mindset going forward."

Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, selected by the Kings as the last pick of the 2011 draft, scored 27 points Wednesday night and is having an outstanding season, averaging 26.1 points and 6.3 assists.

The key to Boston's offense, Thomas has taken at least 20 shots in each of the last six games and is shooting 39 percent (17-for-52) from 3-point range.

The Celtics won both games against Sacramento and have beaten the Kings eight straight times at TD Garden -- dating to the last Sacramento on victory Jan. 19, 2007.

Horford, who has missed 10 games already this season -- nine with a concussion and then Monday night's win at Miami for the birth of his second child -- only shot the ball five times Wednesday night, a number way too low for this team to succeed.

"That's the first thing I saw when I looked at the stat sheet," said Celtics coach Brad Stevens. "It's not enough. I know that. So we need to do a better job of making sure we put him in position to be successful."

Preview: Timberwolves (5-13) at Knicks (9-9)

Date: December 02, 2016 7:30 PM EDT

Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis are redefining the role of the NBA big man.

The 7-0 Towns, last season's Rookie of the Year, and the 7-3 Porzingis, the runner-up, are imposing figures down low but can spread the floor with their ability to hit 3-pointers. And they aren't confined to the block, preferring to drift on the wing or at the elbow.

The two 21-year-old giants will meet for the second time in three nights on Friday when Porzingis and the New York Knicks host Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden.

Towns dropped in a career-high 47 points and grabbed 18 rebounds on Wednesday in Minnesota, but the Timberwolves (5-13) dropped a 106-104 decision to the Knicks (9-9) on Carmelo Anthony's jumper with 2.3 seconds to play. Since the 2003-04 season, Anthony has the most game-winning shots in the final five seconds of a game with 15.

Porzingis led New York with 29 points and eight rebounds. He's shooting at a 40-percent clip from 3-point range, including 44 percent (13 for 34) in his last five games.

Towns is 27 of 72 (.375) from the beyond the arc. He attempted 82 3-pointers all of last season.

"We are two big men that can kind of change the game," Porzingis said. "We didn't play too much against each other, but he was being super-aggressive.

"He was driving to the basket, shooting from the outside, playing in the post. He was doing everything. We had trouble stopping him, but I'm happy we got the win."

Towns, who is friendly with Porzingis, took Wednesday's loss to heart, even though he became the youngest player in Timberwolves history to score at least 40 points.

"I had some miscues where I let things slide away," Towns said. "I missed three free throws, missed some rebounds, missed some shots I should have made."

Porzingis saw some time at center as Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek prefers to play a "small" lineup with Anthony and three guards, leaving center Joakim Noah on the bench. Noah sat out Wednesday's game with an ankle injury.

It's the third game this season Noah has missed because of injury or illness. He's averaging four points and 8.4 rebounds in his first year with the Knicks. Kyle O'Quinn started at center in Noah's absence.

New York may also be without starting shooting guard Courtney Lee, who exited Wednesday's game with a left ankle sprain. If he is unable to go, Hornacek will look to a combination of Justin Holiday and Brandon Jennings, who has two games of 11 assists off the bench, to pair with Derrick Rose in the backcourt.

Preview: Pistons (10-10) at Hawks (10-9)

Date: December 02, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

ATLANTA -- The Detroit Pistons hope to finish their turnaround road trip with a third straight win. The slumping Atlanta Hawks are glad to get back home for a game after four straight losses on their western swing.

The Pistons, who started the season 1-8 away from home, have their record up to 10-10 heading into Friday's game in Atlanta. The Hawks, however, have fallen to 10-9 with their road woes after a 9-2 start.

"You never feel good when you have a tough road trip and you've lost a few in a row," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said after Wednesday's 109-107 loss in Phoenix. "But I think we are looking forward to going home. This is a pretty mature group and they will be ready on Friday."

The Pistons have won four of their past five games after victories at Charlotte and Boston. They can move past .500 for the first time since early November with a victory over the Hawks.

"It's good, coming in with the problems we've had on the road, to play the way we've played the last two nights against two teams that are over .500 and have good personnel," coach Stan Van Gundy said after Wednesday's 121-114 victory against the Celtics.

Andre Drummond had 20 points and 17 rebounds against Boston after being ejected early in Tuesday's 112-89 victory at Charlotte for a flagrant elbow.

The Pistons shot 55.2 percent at Boston and out-rebounded the Celtics 52-33.

"The last two games, we've gotten going shooting the ball a little bit, which has been good," Van Gundy said. "If you play as well as we did offensively, you're going to win most nights."

The Hawks were the first team to defeat the champion Cavaliers in Cleveland this season, but the four losses to end the five-game trip dropped Atlanta's road record to 4-7 compared to 6-2 at home.

The Hawks hope to have Paul Millsap back against the Pistons after he sat out the loss at Phoenix with a sore left hip.

Millsap, averaging 16.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists, took a fall at Utah in the first of the four straight losses, but played in Los Angeles against the Lakers and at Golden State.

Dennis Schroder scored 14 of his career-high 31 points in the fourth quarter and also had nine assists, but it wasn't enough to get the Hawks a win at Phoenix.

The Hawks also got a good game off the bench from Tim Hardaway Jr., who had 21 points.

"I thought it was one of his better overall games, including defensively," Budenholzer said.

The Pistons beat the Hawks in Atlanta to open last season, but then dropped the next three games between the teams, including both at home.

The Pistons are 7-2 at home this season with games against Orlando and Chicago coming up, and should soon see the return of Reggie Jackson, who has missed all season after knee surgery.

"We're having fun," Drummond said after the win at Boston. "The more we play like that the better the season is going to be."

Preview: Cavaliers (13-4) at Bulls (10-7)

Date: December 02, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- LeBron James might not be in the most wonderful mood Friday when his Cleveland Cavaliers tip off against the Chicago Bulls.

For one thing, James is coming off his worst performance of the season. He scored a season-low 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting Thursday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. He missed both of his 3-point attempts and missed five of 11 free-throw attempts.

For another, the Akron native and Cleveland Indians fan agreed to show up to the United Center wearing the full uniform of the Chicago Cubs. Yes, the same Cubs who overcame a 3-1 series deficit to beat his hometown Indians in the World Series.

"It's a bet," James told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "You have to fulfill your bet."

The winner of the bet, as most NBA fans know by now, is none other than Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade. If the Indians had won the World Series, Wade, a Chicago-area native, would have showed up to Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena dressed in full Indians garb.

Instead, Wade will be able to laugh at his friend's humiliating moment.

"I'm going to have my camera crew out there, too," Wade told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Laughs aside, James and Wade know the real winner Friday will be determined by the outcome of their game. The contest marks the first of four meetings this season between the Cavaliers (13-4) and Bulls (10-7), two of the better teams in the Eastern Conference.

Both teams want to establish something positive after disappointing starts to the week.

The Bulls are coming off a sleepy loss on their home court to the Los Angeles Lakers. Coach Fred Hoiberg's team lost three of its past five games and is struggling to generate scoring off the bench with guard Doug McDermott (concussion) out of the lineup.

Bulls guard Jimmy Butler has scored at least 20 points in 11 consecutive games, which is the best streak of his career. Wade also is shining this season with 18.8 points a game, but Chicago needs more support from complementary players such as forward Nikola Mirotic.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season. Cleveland raced to the top of the Eastern Conference standings with 13 wins in its first 15 games, but coach Tyronn Lue's team lost its past two games by 17 points and 19 points, respectively.

The Bulls are 4-2 at home, the same record the Cavaliers own on the road.

Cleveland is led by guard Kyrie Irving, who is averaging 24.7 points per game this season. James is not far behind at 23.1 points per game, and forward Kevin Love is contributing 21.4 points per game as part of a dynamic, front-loaded attack.

James acknowledged that it would be strange to see Wade in a Bulls uniform. Wade, 34, spent 13 seasons with the Miami Heat before signing with his hometown team this summer.

"It will probably be the same as when I saw 'CP' (Chris Paul) in a Clipper uniform or 'Melo' (Carmelo Anthony) in a Knick uniform," James told the Plain Dealer. "You know, we all have decisions to make, and we've made our decisions across my career and we've always supported each other, so it's going to be pretty cool, not only just because he's in a different uniform but just him being back home and understanding what his journey is right now. I think it's more than just basketball for himself, being back home in Chicago."

Wade embraced the showdown with his friend. Once James removes his Cubs uniform and puts on his Cavaliers uniform, the friends will battle from start to finish.

"I won't be one of those cliche athletes to say it's just another game," Wade told the Sun-Times. "I just enjoy it more. Simple as that. I enjoy playing against LeBron more than anybody else just because of the things I know he's going to bring to the game."

Preview: Clippers (15-5) at Pelicans (7-12)

Date: December 02, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

NEW ORLEANS -- The 15-5 Los Angeles Clippers have one piece of unfinished business before closing out their taxing, six-game road trip Friday night against the resurgent New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center.

The good news is the Clippers played one of their most complete games of the season on Thursday night in routing the reigning NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers, 113-94, to snap a season-high, three-game road losing streak.

With a victory over New Orleans (7-12) on Friday night, the Clippers would finish their six games on the road at 3-3, quite a salvage job after coach Doc Rivers was tossed from a double-overtime loss, his team's third straight, against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.

Rivers was fined $15,000 by the NBA on Thursday for his verbal abuse of referee Ken Mauer, and he accepted the consequences.

"Obviously, I should have gotten fined, just from the actions afterwards," Rivers said. "I had no problem with that at all. I'm good with it."

On Thursday night, the Clippers forced the Cavs to empty their bench midway through the fourth quarter by moving the ball with ease, recording a season-high 33 assists on 42 made field goals. Blake Griffin had a season-high 11 assists to go with 13 points, and J.J. Redick scored 23 points, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

The Pelicans have rallied from a horrendous 0-8 start to win seven of their last 11 games, largely based on the spectacular play of forward Anthony Davis, who leads the NBA in points (32.1) and blocked shots (2.8) and ranks seventh in rebounds (11.2).

But just as important in the Pelicans' recent success has been the return of guard Jrue Holiday, who missed the first month of the season while caring for his wife, Lauren, following her surgery to remove a benign brain tumor.

The Pelicans lost their first five home games and were outscored by an average margin of 9.0 points. With Holiday back on the court, the Pelicans have gone 5-0 at home and won by an average margin of 11.2 points.

During the five-game home winning streak, Davis is averaging 37.4 points, 13.4 points and 2.4 blocks. He has shot 57.1 percent in the last seven games. Before Holiday returned, Davis shot just 48.5 percent from the floor.

"When Jrue's on the floor, it changes the dynamics of our entire team," Davis said.

The Pelicans also are about to get healthier. Guard Tyreke Evans, a slasher who can penetrate and dish, has missed the entire season rehabbing from knee surgery. Evans has been practicing with few restrictions and likely will return for spot duty next week, but not against the Clippers on Friday night.

New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said although Evans' knee is sound, he is still working through a calf injury.

"When he's healthy enough to get on the floor, we'll incorporate him into what we're doing," Gentry said. "The guy hasn't run up and down the basketball court for the last six to eight months. He's not going to step out and be who he is. What we've got to do is put him in a position where he's not playing long stretches of minutes."

The Clippers won three of four from New Orleans last season, but the Pelicans defeated them 109-105 at home on March 20 and took the Clippers to overtime at Los Angeles on Jan. 10.

Preview: Wizards (6-11) at Spurs (15-4)

Date: December 02, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

When people talk about the San Antonio Spurs' first quarter of the 2016-17 season, they don't mention the way the Spurs won every game they played on the road, or about the upcoming celebration for the retired Tim Duncan or that they have one of the best basketball players on the planet -- do-everything-and-do-it-well forward Kawhi Leonard -- leading them night in and night out.

Instead the talk is about the Spurs' middling play at home, where they've dropped four of their eight contests to the likes of the Clippers, Houston, Utah and, most recently, Orlando.

San Antonio has another chance to get rolling at home on Friday when it hosts the Washington at AT&T Center, squaring off with the Wizards for the second time in a week and for the final time this season.

Just about everyone associated with the Spurs (15-4) is at a loss to explain why they've struggled at home. Is it defensive breakdowns, an early lack of intensity or a general malaise built on years of continued success?

"We've been ready to play on the road," Spurs forward Pau Gasol said. "At home we sometimes come out a little flat. Those slow starts really cost us the ballgames. We put ourselves into too big of a hole to get out of. When most opposing teams come here, they don't expect to win, but once they get an opportunity, they see a window, they jump right through it.

"On the road we've been ready, understanding that it's usually a more challenging situation. We come out ready to play and we usually deliver the first blow and that usually puts us in an advantageous position."

After losing to Orlando on Tuesday, San Antonio went back on the road and waylaid Dallas, coming back from 13 points down in the third quarter to post a 94-87 win on Wednesday.

The Spurs, with Gasol, guard Manu Ginobili and point guard Tony Parker held out to rest on the second night of back-to-back games, were led by guards Patty Mills' 23 points, 15 of which came in the fourth quarter.

"Coming home, trying to defend home court," Mills said, "is the priority for (Friday's) game."

Washington (6-11) heads to the Alamo City off a 126-115 overtime road loss Wednesday to Oklahoma City. Guard Bradley Beal scored 31 points in the loss, point guard John Wall had 15 assists and seven Washington players tallied in double figures but the Wizards relented after holding a seven-point lead with four minutes to play.

"It was a heck of a basketball game against a very good team," Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. "I like the way our guys compete -- our guys fought back twice in a very difficult arena. We didn't give up or give in. It was a great sign of where this team is going as we continue on this season."

Washington is 6-7 this season when Beal and Wall are both in the starting lineup. In those games, the Wizards average 105.4 points on 45.8 percent shooting. Beal averages 22.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists while Wall averages 21.8 points, 10.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals.

"This was probably our most difficult loss of the season," Wall said. "We had a chance to win the game at the end and when we didn't the momentum changed in overtime. We have to refocus and be ready to play San Antonio."

San Antonio beat Washington last Saturday 112-100 at Verizon Center in the nation's capital. The Spurs haven't lost to the Wizards at home since Dec. 11, 1999, a streak of 16 games.

Preview: Rockets (12-7) at Nuggets (7-11)

Date: December 02, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

The Denver Nuggets players were warm and cozy in their homes Thursday, surely watching their Friday night opponents go play deep into the night.

They saw a good game, but they probably saw the benefit of the Houston Rockets beating the Golden State Warriors 132-127 in double overtime. The game ended after midnight Colorado time, less than 21 hours before Friday's game at Pepsi Center is scheduled to tip off.

The Nuggets have to feel fortunate. Stopping the Rockets is tough, but after 58 minutes of intense basketball their legs might be a little weary Friday night.

Weary but happy after ending Golden State's 12-game winning streak. James Harden had another big game in the win, recording his fourth triple-double with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists, and now he'll have to turn around and do it again after a long night.

"We're a resilient team," Harden said on the TNT broadcast after Thursday's win. "Big-time win on the road and we have another one tomorrow."

The Rockets' early morning win might be the break Denver needs after it collapsed defensively in a 106-98 loss to Miami on Wednesday. Another poor defensive game Friday could doom them against the prolific Houston offense.

The Rockets set the single-game NBA record for 3-point attempts with 50 against the Sacramento Kings last week, and they put up 44 against the Warriors.

Houston (12-7) is averaging 14 made 3-pointers this season, which is ahead of the league record set by Golden State last year. It means the Nuggets (7-11) have to get out on the shooters, something they didn't do in the fourth quarter against the Heat.

Miami shot 61.1 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from long range to rally for the win.

"We didn't play that well," guard Emmanuel Mudiay said. "We'll just have to try to pick it up and have more energy. Contain (Houston's) guards in the next game from the 3-point line. They have a good 3-point shooting team."

It starts with Harden, who is fifth in the NBA in scoring at 28.7 points a game, but it doesn't end with him. Five Rockets players are averaging 12.2 points or more this season, and Houston's 110 points a game is fourth in the league.

The Rockets got a boost a couple of weeks ago with the return of guard Patrick Beverley. Beverley has helped an already potent offense that has scored 100 or more points in all but three games this season.

"Pat's a dog," Harden told Bleacher Report. "He brings a lot to our team, especially on the defensive end."

His defense on the perimeter will be key on Mudiay and rookie Jamal Murray, who has come on strong after a slow start. Murray on Thursday was named the NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for November.

Murray led all Western Conference rookies in scoring with 10.4 points a game to go with 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He scored at least 18 points in four of six games to close the month, including a 24-point, six-rebound effort on Nov. 22 in a 110-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Murray was a bright spot in the fourth quarter Wednesday when he hit two late 3-pointers to keep Denver in the game.

"He's played at a high level," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told The Denver Post. "As the year goes on, even though it's going to be tough, I think his role is going to increase because he's that good of a player."

The Nuggets will get guard Will Barton back. He has missed two straight games with a sore left ankle and another game for personal reasons. Barton played three games after missing nine after spraining the joint on Oct. 31 but said he's feeling better.

Denver will need Barton to help slow down Houston's offense. The Nuggets hope a late game in Golden State will do that, too.

Free NBA Picks: Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews

If you are a Cubs or Indians fan or just like to see millionaire athletes pay off their silly bets, you should tune into ESPN before Friday's Cavaliers at Bulls game. That's because Cleveland's LeBron James and Chicago's Dwyane Wade, good buddies, made a wager on the Indians-Cubs World Series. Of course the Cubs rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to win the Fall Classic in Game 7 in Cleveland with LeBron in attendance. And now James must dress up in a full Cubs uniform before Friday's game. Don't expect LeBron -- an Ohio native but who actually grew up a Yankees fan -- to simply buy some jersey off the rack as I'm sure it will be styled exactly to his liking and then fetch thousands of dollars in some sort of a charity auction. There's no question that ESPN will show James walking into the United Center in that garb.

Magic at 76ers (pick'em, 200)

Orlando was in Memphis on Thursday. Philadelphia hosted Sacramento on Wednesday -- only it didn't. That game was postponed because of moisture on the court. Some knucklehead forgot to turn the thermostat down in the Wells Fargo Center a few hours before the game (it didn't help it was unseasonably warm outside). Both the Sixers and Kings were off Thursday but couldn't play there because a concert was scheduled. No makeup date has been announced yet. Orlando was 3-1 vs. Philly last year and has won 11 of the past 14 meetings. Elfrid Payton was selected 10th overall the 2014 draft by Philadelphia but was traded to Orlando immediately.

Key trends: The Magic are 12-3 against the spread in the past 15 meetings. The "over/under" is 5-1 in the past six.

Early lean: 76ers and under.

Kings at Celtics (-7, 207.5)

Sacramento will have been off since Monday thanks to Wednesday's postponement in Philly. Boston lost 121-114 at home to Detroit on Wednesday. Isaiah Thomas paced the Celtics with 27 points, and Kelly Olynyk scored a season-high 19. Al Horford was back after missing a game (birth of child) and had nine points. Boston swept Sacramento last year (one game in Mexico) and has won nine straight at home in the series.

Key trends: The Kings are 1-6 ATS in the past seven meetings. The under is 9-3 in Boston's past 12 overall.

Early lean: Celtics and under.

Lakers at Raptors (-10, 217.5)

Los Angeles pulled an upset in Chicago on Wednesday, 96-90. Julius Randle, who was questionable to play, hit the tiebreaking layup with 45.1 seconds left and finished with 13 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Before the game, the Lakers announced that guard Nick Young was going to miss 2-4 weeks with a strained right calf muscle. Toronto won a fourth straight Wednesday, 120-105 over Memphis. Kyle Lowry had 29 points and eight assists, and DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points. Toronto has taken the past two at home vs. the Lakers and three straight overall. The Raptors had never swept the season series until last year.

Key trends: The Lakers are 0-4 ATS in their past four after a win. The over is 10-2 in Toronto's past 12.

Early lean: Raptors and over.

Timberwolves at Knicks (-3.5, 210)

Second of a home-and-home between these two as Minnesota on Wednesday lost at home to the Knicks 106-104, the Wolves' sixth loss in their past seven games. Karl-Anthony Towns had his best game as a pro with 47 points and 18 rebounds, but Carmelo Anthony won it for New York on a jumper with 2.3 seconds left. Melo had only 12 points, but Kristaps Porzingis had 29. Joakim Noah missed the game with a sprained ankle. Courtney Lee sprained his ankle in the game, so he's probably going to miss at least this one. The Wolves have won two of their past three in New York.

Key trends: The Knicks are 6-1 ATS in their past seven at home. The under is 6-2 in Minnesota's past eight.

Early lean: Wolves and under.

Cavaliers at Bulls (TBA)

First of the ESPN doubleheader. Cavs could be a bit flat and maybe even sit one of their key players after hosting the Clippers on Thursday. I doubt LeBron sits as he'll want to face Wade for the first time with Wade as a Bull. Chicago lost at home to the Lakers, 96-90 on Wednesday. Jimmy Butler missed two key shots down the stretch for the Bulls. He had 22 points but was just 4-for-18. Robin Lopez finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and a career-high eight blocked shots. Chicago dropped to 8-1 this season when its opponent scores fewer than 100 points. The Bulls won last season's series (3-1) the Cavs for the fifth time in the last six years. Chicago has taken the past three at home vs. Cleveland.

Key trends: The underdog is 7-0 ATS in the past seven meetings. The under is 4-1 in the past five meetings.

Early lean: Bulls will be underdogs and I'd take whatever points.

Clippers at Pelicans (+4.5, 211)

See the Cavs note above for the Clippers as they may be in same boat as Cleveland here. Plus this closes a grueling six-game trip for Los Angeles. New Orleans beat the visiting Lakers 105-88 on Tuesday. Anthony Davis had 41 points and 16 rebounds. Jrue Holiday returned to the starting lineup for the first time this season and had 22 points. New Orleans has won only five of its past 18 meetings with the Clippers and dropped three of four last season. Davis played in only two of them.

Key trends: The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The over is 5-2 in the previous seven.

Early lean: Pelicans and under.

Pistons at Hawks (TBA)

Detroit pulled off a second straight road upset Wednesday, 121-114 in Boston in the second of a back-to-back. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 25 points, Tobias Harris had 21 and Andre Drummond added 20 points and 17 rebounds. The Pistons shot 55.2 percent. Atlanta dropped a fourth in a row Wednesday, 109-107 in Phoenix. Kent Bazemore had 22 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 21 and Dwight Howard added 17 points with 14 rebounds for Atlanta. Paul Millsap sat with a left hip injury. Atlanta lost on opening night at home to Detroit last season but then won the next three vs. the Pistons.

Key trends: The Pistons are 2-6 ATS in the past eight meetings. The over is 4-1 in the previous five.

Early lean: Wait on Millsap.

Wizards at Spurs (-9, 203)

Washington lost 126-115 in OT at Oklahoma City on Wednesday. John Wall had 15 points and 15 assists. Otto Porter missed a short fadeaway at the end of regulation that would have won the game. Ian Mahinmi sat out again with a sore knee. San Antonio bounced back from a shocking home loss to Orlando on Tuesday with a 94-87 win in Dallas on Wednesday even with Pau Gasol, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili all sitting to rest. Patty Mills scored 15 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter and Kawhi Leonard added 21 points as the Spurs rallied from 13 down. San Antonio won in Washington 112-100 last Saturday. The Spurs have won 16 straight at home in the series.

Key trends: The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The over is 8-2 in Washington's past 10 on the road.

Early lean: Spurs and over.

Rockets at Nuggets (-1, 222.5)

Second ESPN game. I expect Houston to have nothing left in the tank here after running all night Thursday at Golden State. Denver lost 106-98 at home to Miami on Wednesday. Nikola Jokic came off the bench with 17 points and 14 rebounds for Denver, which was outscored 31-18 in the fourth quarter. Danilo Gallinari returned after missing three games and had 17 points. Will Barton missed a second straight game. Denver was 3-0 vs. Houston last year.

Key trends: Houston is 2-6 ATS in the past eight in Denver. The over is 6-2 in those.

Early lean: Nuggets and over.

NBA

Friday’s games

Philly lost last four games overall, last three at home, but they’re 8-4 as a home underdog. Three of their last four games went over total. Orlando lost by point in Memphis last night; they’ve lost five of last six games, are 3-6 on road, 0-1 as road favorites. Under is 7-2 in their last nine games. 76ers lost eight of last ten games with Orlando; five of last six series games went over total. Magic won their last five visits here (3-2 vs spread).

Lakers split last six games, lost three of last four on road; they’re 6-4 as road underdogs (1-3 in last four). Five of last six LA games stayed under total. Raptors won/covered their last four games; they’re 5-2 as home favorites. Over is 9-2-1 in their last 12 games. Lakers lost last three games with Toronto; all three games stayed under total. LA lost three of last four visits here, with losses by 9-11-5 points.

Sacramento is 3-2 in its last five games but is 3-6 on road, 2-6 as a road underdog. Six of their last eight games went over total. Boston lost its last three home games; they’re 3-3 as a home favorite. Last three Celtic games went over the total. Celtics won five of last seven games with Sacramento; home side won eight of last nine series games. Kings lost last four visits to Beantown (0-4 vs spread).

Knicks won by a hoop in Minnesota Wednesday, despite Towns’ 47 points; New York won last three series games, by 2-8-5 points. Three of last four series games stayed under total. Minnesota lost six of last seven games, is 2-7 on road, 2-3 as a road underdog. Six of their nine road games went over total. Knicks won/covered six of their last seven home games; they’re 5-1 as a home favorite. Over is 6-4 in their home games.

Detroit won four of last five games; they split last six road games, are 3-6 as road underdogs. Four of last five Piston games went over total. Atlanta lost seven of last eight games, is 6-2 as a home favorite. Under is 9-1 in their last ten games. Hawks won six of last eight games with Detroit; Pistons lost three of last four visits here, with losses by 7-11-10 points. Four of last five series games went over.

Cavaliers lost by 19 at home to the Clippers last night; they lost last two games after a 13-2 start. Cleveland is 4-2 on road; four of their last five games went over total. Chicago is 2-3 in its last five games, is 4-2 SU/ATS at home. Under is 5-2 in their last seven games. Bulls won three of last four games with Cleveland, covered six of last eight series games. Cavaliers lost last two visits here by total of five points. Four of last five series games stayed under the total.

Clippers ended 3-game skid with win in Cleveland last nite; they’re 8-3 on road, 4-5 as road favorites. Over is 9-3 in LA’s last 12 games. Pelicans won/covered its last five home games; they’re 3-0 as a home underdog. Over is 7-2-1 in New Orleans home games. Clippers won four of last five games with New Orleans; LA lost three of last four visits to Bourbon Street- home teams won eight of last nine series games. Over is 5-2 in last seven series games.

Wizards are 1-6 on road, 1-3 as road underdogs; they’re 4-3 in last seven games overall. Over is 6-3 in their last nine games. San Antonio is just 4-4 at home, 2-6 as a home favorite; they’re 10-1 in last 11 games overall. Over is 6-2 in Spurs’ last eight games. Spurs won eight of last ten games with Washington; home side won six of last eight series games, with over 2-0-1 in last three. Wizards lost last five visits to Alamo (1-4 vs spread).

Nuggets lost three of last four games, are 3-6 at home, 2-2 as a home underdog. Over is 5-2-1 in Denver’s last eight games. Houston beat Warriors in double OT in Oakland last night; they’re 8-5 on road, 4-2 as road favorites. Over is 6-1-1 in their last eight games. Denver won its last three games with Houston by 20-9-6 points; home side won seven of last ten series games (over 6-4). Could be tough game for Rockets to bounce back from.

Preview: Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Cougars (4-3) at Indiana Hoosiers (5-1)

Date: December 02, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

It is one of those teacher vs. pupil coaching matchups Friday night when No. 13 Indiana plays Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in Bloomington, Ind., two nights after the Hoosiers stunned No. 3 North Carolina 76-67.

SIU-Edwardsville (4-3) is coached by Jon Harris, an Edwardsville, Ill., native who played three seasons at Marquette for current Indiana coach Tom Crean.

Harris' Cougars won their past two games, including a 76-64 victory at Grand Canyon, a game in which guard Carlos Anderson scored 18 points. The Indiana game will be especially significant for Cougars' starting forward Keenan Simmons, a Michigan City, Ind., native who is averaging 7.4 points.

Cougars guard Christian Ellis already has two Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week honors. He is averaging 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

"The key to our recruiting is to bring in winners and people who expect to win," Harris said of his improving team. "That's a mindset and a direction, and we are trending in that direction in our locker room."

Indiana's locker room will be void of a key element Friday night and again on Sunday when the Hoosiers play Southeast Missouri. Six-foot-8 sophomore wing O.G. Anunoby, who scored 16 points against North Carolina, sustained an ankle sprain late in the game and was ruled out at least through the weekend.

Averaging 12.5 points and six rebounds, Anunoby was Indiana's leading scorer in the past two games, contributing 21 last Sunday in a victory against Mississippi Valley State.

Indiana (5-1) stumbled in an overtime loss at Fort Wayne but since beat two teams ranked No. 3 when they played the Hoosiers -- first Kansas in Hawaii and now North Carolina, which fell behind 23-9 early and never fully recovered.

"It shows us that we have to bring it every night," Crean said. "We have to have that kind of effort and mindset. ...

"When we played Kansas, we took every blow in that game. We delivered blows. We had great togetherness and great energy with one another. In the Fort Wayne game, we got quiet. We got back on our heels. And nobody took control of the team. When you don't have an individual leader, it's got to be collective."

Indiana center Thomas Bryant believes the Hoosiers are beginning to see the big picture, especially when they play in Assembly Hall, which was energized Wednesday night by the return of the 1981 NCAA tournament championship team that defeated North Carolina.

"You feel it even before you step on the floor," Bryant said of the home-court advantage Indiana experiences each time it plays in Assembly Hall, which recently underwent a makeover. "It makes you want to go out on that floor and play your best every time."

Hoosiers junior guard James Blackmon Jr. added after the North Carolina game, "We just wanted to bring the energy with us. The fans really helped us with the energy."

This is only the second meeting between Indiana and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. The Hoosiers won the first matchup in 2010.

NCAAB

Friday’s games

Light card tonight but some more MAAC games, the first conference games of the season:

Pitt has beaten Duquesne 15 years in a row (at least), last four years by 14+ points. Panthers are 6-1 this year, winning by 19-13 points in games vs teams outside the top 200. Pitt had a big win at Maryland three nights ago; they’re 5th-worst team in country at forcing turnovers. Duquesne is 3-5 with home losses to Tenn-Martin, UMBC, bad losses; Dukes are #304 experience team turning ball over 22.5% of time while playing #44 pace. ACC favorites are 13-9 vs spread on neutral floors; A-14 underdogs are 8-11 away from home.

St John’s lost its last five games after starting season with wins over teams #342-283; their last game was an unsightly home loss to #330 Delaware State. Red Storm lost by 6 at Minnesota in there only true road game. St John’s is 2nd-least experienced team in country. Tulane is 1-6 with only win by 17 over #243 SE Louisiana, in its only home game; five of six losses were to teams in top 150. Green Wave are starting two frosh in Dunleavy’s first season. Big East favorites are 10-9 vs spread away from home. AAC underdogs are 14-12.

Texas lost its last three games, all vs top 80 teams, after a 3-0 start (all vs teams outside top 200); Longhorns scored 57.7 pts/game in their recent skid- they’re shooting only 26.2% on arc. Alabama is playing its first true road game; they split of neutral floor games with Valparaiso/Saint Louis out in Vegas. Crimson Tide is forcing turnovers 25.4% of time; their bench is playing 9th-most minutes in country. Big X home favorites are 12-7 vs spread; SEC underdogs are 10-10. Big X teams are 14-8 in last 22 games vs SEC teams, 7-6 vs spread when favored.

Manhattan is 15-22 the last 1+ seasons, since making NCAAs two years in row; they’ve won six of last seven games with Canisius- Griffins lost four of last five visits to Draddy Gym, with three of four losses by 9+ points. Underdogs are 4-2 vs spread in last six series games. Jaspers turned ball over 40 times at West Virginia in last game; they turn ball over 29.3% of time, 2nd-worst in country- they split two home games. Canisius is 2-4 with both wins on road, at Duquesne and Youngstown;* Griffins are turning ball over 21.3% of the time.

Niagara beat Marist twice LY by total of seven points; Purple Eagles are 6-3 in last nine series games, but lost two of last three visits here, with losses by 14-2 points. Niagara is 0-4 on road, with three losses to teams ranked #261 or worse- their only win is over #268 Drexel; Eagles are shooting 39.4% on arc, only 45.1% inside it. Marist won three of last four games after an 0-3 start; Red Foxes are 3-0 vs teams outside the top 200, 0-4 vs top 200 teams. Marist has #327 eFG% defense, meaning they’re a bad defensive team.

Indiana beat North Carolina in an emotional home win Wednesday; quick turnaround here vs SIU-Edwardsville team that is 4-3, 2-1 in true road games, with only loss by 18 at Arkansas State. Cougars are shooting 39.3% on arc, are #7 team at getting to foul line, but are shooting only 69.4% on line once they get there. Hoosiers are 3-0 vs teams outside top 200, winning by 22-39-33 points. Best team SIU-E has played in Southern Illinois, wh beat Cougars by 18. OVC road underdogs are 16-15 vs spread.

Iona won six of last seven games with St Peter’s, going 5-2 in last seven visits here; Gaels won Alaskan Shootout last weekend, are 3-2 this season, losing true road games at Florida State, Nevada by 21-15 points- they haven’t played a home game yet, but did avenge the Nevada loss in finals in Alaska. St Peter’s scored 80+ points in its three wins, 57-41 in losses to Lafayette, Fordham; best team Peacocks have played is #162 Boston U- St Peter’s beat them 80-67. Peacocks start three seniors and a junior. Iona is starting two new transfers.