Service Plays Wednesday Christmas Day 12/25/13

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GL!

Could NBA Xmas Day jerseys slow down shooters?

LeBron James hopes the NBA kept the receipt for those short-sleeve Christmas Day jerseys, with many of his team’s perimeter shooters voicing their dislike of the Dec. 25 outfit.

James blasted the new-look jerseys ahead of Miami’s Xmas Day showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald, saying the Heat’s shooters “are already upset about” the short-sleeve shirts.

“I can’t have my shooters out there worrying about some sleeves and not shooting the ball,” James told reporters.

Odds have been out for the Christmas Day NBA games since the schedule was released. Miami opened as a 6-point road favorite against the Lakers.

The Heat are currently 20-6 SU, 13-13 ATS and 16-10 O/U. Miami is shooting a combined 51.5 percent from the floor – first in the NBA – and 38.3 percent from 3-point range – fifth in the league. If any team could be hindered by the tight-fitting apparel, it would be the Heat.

Teams have been wearing the short-sleeve style jerseys since last season when the Golden State Warriors introduced them. There’s been no evidence that the form-fitting shirts have impacted shooting percentages in those limited appearances and the NBA has said that the shirt style does not limit range of motion.

Last Christmas, the five NBA games played to a 2-3 O/U record with the traditional singlet-style jerseys. Miami defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-97, shooting 47.5 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from beyond the arc (8 for 28) and played Under the 203-point total.

Hot Shot Sports Christmas Day Hoops:

• Spurs ****
• ↓Heat/Lakers ***

exactly right it all depends if you catch these guys when there hot....which isnt very often....they all live and brag off there hot streaks... but all of them doesnt matter which capper is under 50 percent lifetime ..some are like 25 percent...remember why they became cappers ..to make money of people because they knew the gambling part was a losing cause

Two for Tuesday December 24, 2013 3:00 AM by GT Staff



2 for Tuesday by Mark Mayer

1) Chicago NL at Brooklyn (Christmas Day)

No Tuesday action, but 5 big games Wednesday. Bulls not the same team without Derrick Rose. Nets have been awful, but maybe Chicago is the gift under Barclays Center tree. BROOKLYN.

2) Oklahoma City NL at NY Knicks (NBA)

What better place for Kevin Durant and Company to spend Christmas than Madison Square Garden facing Camelo Anthony and his dysfunctional Knicks. How about 40, Kevin? OKC.

Mark Mayer: Last week 2-0 ATS; 2013 record: 61-38-1

Joe Gavazzi | NBA Sides
pick
808 SAN -7.0 (-110) 5dimes vs 807 HOU


Analysis: Turned the Hoops around yesterday going 3-0 here on this site. My (2) strongest plays here in NBA & College Hoops today. Do not miss the Hoops, there is way more money to be made in Hoops then in FB. Wishing you a Safe & Happy Holiday. Houston at San Antonio 8:05 ET ESPN 2* San Antonio Houston has become one of the more resilient teams in the league standing 7-3 ATS/loss. They will be inspired for this game after losing at home to the 3rd Texas team, Dallas, on Monday night. Yet there is equal motivation on the part of the home-standing Spurs who play with 112-106 revenge for an earlier loss this season on this floor to Houston. Expect the Spurs, who figure to play at full strength, to do a far better job on the boards against Howard then they did in that first meeting. If you had picked the SU winner in every Houston game this season, you would be 26-3 ATS. If you believe, as do I, that the Spurs will win this game outright then I fully expect the Spurs get this cover pushing that Houston record to 27-3 ATS.

Essential betting tidbits for Christmas' NBA action

Here at Covers, we want to wish you a Merry Christmas and what would be a better gift from us to you, than a stocking stuffed full of all the best NBA betting tidbits for Wednesday's action.

Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets (-3, 188)

The Bulls have not only struggled to win games since Derrick Rose went down with yet another knee injury, they have struggled to keep games close. They are just 4-11 SU and ATS without Rose in the lineup.

Brook Lopez's foot injury really hurt the Nets. Including the game Lopez got injured, the Nets are averaging just 32.6 total rebounds per game.That is four less than the worst rebounding team in the NBA.

Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks (+8, 200)

The Thunder sport an impressive 8-5 mark ATS on the road this season. But recent visits to Madison Square Garden haven't been kind to the Thunder, who haven't covered in their last four trips there.

The Knicks already rank 25th in the NBA in scoring at 95 points per game and could be without their best player. Carmelo Anthony is questionable with a sprained ankle, he is averaging 26.3 points per game.

Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakes (+8.5, 206.5)

It's crazy to think, but LeBron James may be getting better. He is shooting a ridiculous .599 from the floor this season and leads the Heat in scoring (25.4), rebounds (6.9) and assists (6.6) per game.

If you were told in October that Nick Johnson would be the leading scorer for the Lakers at this point in the season, you probably would have laughed. Don't. He is, at 15.6 points per game.

Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (-7, 209)

If the Rockets want to be included in the list of elite teams in the West, they will have to improve at the defensive end of the floor. Of all the current playoff teams they allow the most points per game at 102.4.

The Spurs are not surprisingly 22-6, but have had a bit of trouble against top competition. Their last three losses have come against the Thunder, Clippers and Pacers and all have been by more than 10 points.

Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors (-2, 205)

The Clippers are looking for their sixth win in a row Wednesday. They have scored 113.6, while only giving up 98.2 points per game during their current win streak.

It's hard to beleive the Warriors would be the eighth seed in the Western Conference if the playoffs started today. Their last four losses have been by four points or less.

NBA on Christmas Day: Betting stats and trends
By MARC LAWRENCE

'Twas an NBA day of Christmas when all through the sport, fans are stirring with no less than five games to sort.

Like Miley Cyrus the league speaks not a word and goes straight to work, looking to stuff their stockings while trying not to twerk.

With presents delivered under the Christmas tree, here's my gift to you, for all to see.

With the Bulls and Nets taking off in flight, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Christmases past

Here is a breakdown of the 10 teams playing on Christmas this season and how they’ve performed on Dec. 25 since 1990:

• Brooklyn (New Jersey): 1-1 SU and 1-1 ATS and 1-1 O/U
Trending: 0-1 ATS last year

• Chicago: 7-2 SU and 5-4 ATS and 3-6 O/U
Trending: 0-3 ATS last three games

• Golden State: 1-1 SU and 1-1 ATS and 1-1 O/U
Trending: 0-1 ATS last year

• Houston: 2-3 SU and 4-1 ATS and 2-1-2 O/U
Trending: 4-0 ATS last four games

• L.A. Clippers: 2-3 SU and 2-3 ATS and 2-3 O/U
Trending: 2-0 ATS last two games

• L.A. Lakers: 7-9 SU and 9-6-1 ATS and 5-10-1 O/U
Trending: 4-0 ATS last four as a dog

• Miami: 7-2 SU and 5-4 ATS and 2-7 O/U
Trending: 1-6 UNDER last seven games

• New York: 3-5 SU and 2-6 ATS and 4-4 O/U
Trending: 0-4 ATS last four as a dog

• Oklahoma City: 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS and 1-4 O/U
Trending: visitor 0-5 ATS Thunder/Xmas games

• San Antonio: 3-2 SU and 3-1-1 ATS and 1-4 O/U
Trending: 3-0-1 ATS vs. Western Conference foes

What have you done for me lately?

Noteworthy team trends wrapped inside each Christmas Day game…

• Bulls: 1-8 SU and 3-6 ATS away Wednesdays / 3-12 ATS last fifteen games in December

• Nets: playoff revenge from last season / 0-5 SUATS Wednesdays this season

• Thunder: 13-6 ATS away December / 2-5 SUATS away Wednesdays

• Knicks: 14-3 SU and 12-5 ATS home Wednesdays

• Heat: 18-2 SU on Wednesdays / 4-9 ATS December

• Lakers: 1-9 ATS last 10 games in this series / 7-13 ATS home December

• Rockets: 11-6 ATS last seventeen games here

• Spurs: 18-2 SU December / 0-4 ATS home Wednesdays

• Clippers: 10-2 SU and 9-3 ATS Wednesdays / 15-4 SU away December

• Warriors: 8-3 ATS last eleven games in this series

Defending champion doldrums

Christmas day has not been a gifting experience for NBA’s defending champions.

That’s confirmed by their lousy 0-5 SU and ATS mark since 2000 when facing an opponent playing with one day-exact rest.

The Lakers hope to add to that number when they host the Heat at the Staples Center.

Under the Christmas Tree

Non-conference games certainly bring the best defensive effort out in teams on Christmas Day.

Thirteen of the 16 games played on Dec. 25 since 1991 involving Eastern and Western Conference foes have played under the total.

Six of the seven games involving a team off loss have stayed under the total.

The gift that keeps on giving

The L. A. Lakers are 17-1 SU at home during December.

NBA Top 4: Popular Christmas Day attractions

While most North Americans get to spend Christmas Day tearing through wrapping paper and gorging themselves on turkey and stuffing, a handful of men and women are forced to work - and that includes professional basketball players.

The annual Christmas Day NBA schedule is full of marquee teams and fierce rivalries, more often than not resulting in entertaining games. Some teams have become fixtures on the holiday schedule, due to the quality of the roster or the size of the market.

Here's a look at four of the most popular Christmas Day attractions (records since 1990-91):

Chicago Bulls (8-2 SU, 5-4-1 ATS, 4-6 O/U)

No team has spread more holiday cheer than the Michael Jordan-led Bulls of the 1990s, who ripped through opponents with no regard for human life. The Bulls won all seven Christmas Day games they played in the 1990s, while covering the spread five times over that span. The Bulls were pulled off the Christmas schedule following Jordan's "retirement" and subsequent relocation to Washington, but resurfaced after building a solid two-way team led by point guard Derrick Rose. Chicago hasn't fared as well over the last three holiday games, going 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS. The Bulls visit Brooklyn on Wednesday.

Miami Heat (7-2 SU, 5-4 ATS, 2-7 O/U)

The holiday season seems to bring out the best in the Heat, who have been one of the showcase Christmas Day teams since the turn of the century - and with good reason. From the days of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade to the present three-headed monster of Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh, Miami has represented must-see-NBA-TV for the better part of a decade. Their Christmas Day performances have been sensational - they have won their last four Dec. 25 contests, covering the spread in each one. Miami tangles with the host Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Lakers (6-8 SU, 8-5-1 ATS, 5-9 O/U)

The franchise once known as "Showtime" has been anything but when it comes to performing on Christmas Day. The Lakers have struggled SU on Dec. 25, having dropped seven of their last 10 games despite performing well ATS over that span (6-4). They have also had remarkable success as an "under" play, going below the total in five consecutive games and seven of the last eight. Armed with a threadbare roster and dealing with a long-term injury to franchise centerpiece Kobe Bryant, expect that trend to continue.

New York Knicks (3-5 SU, 2-6 ATS, 4-4 O/U)

No team has appeared in more Christmas Day games than the Knicks (47), but they've only recently returned to prominence after spending most of the 2000s on the holiday sidelines. The acquisition of superstar Carmelo Anthony has livened things up at Madison Square Garden, but that hasn't translated to success on Dec. 25. New York is 2-2 SU in its last four holiday outings, and has covered the spread just once over that span. Low-scoring games have also been the rule, with the "under" converting in the three of the past four years. New York hosts Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Bulls at Nets: What bettors need to know

Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets (-2.5, 187.5)

The NBA’s schedule-makers likely had a battle of Eastern Conference powers in mind when the Chicago Bulls and the host Brooklyn Nets were selected for the league’s Christmas slate, but that's far from the case when the teams meet Wednesday to begin the annual holiday showcase. The Bulls have won just twice in the past nine games and will be looking for their first winning streak in more than a month. The Nets, meanwhile, have lost three in a row, including Monday's 103-86 loss to Indiana.

Of course, injuries are a big reason why both teams have not lived up to their lofty expectations. Chicago is 4-12 since 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose suffered his second major knee injury in as many seasons on Nov. 22. Brooklyn has had to shuffle its rotation throughout the season, but the big blow came late last week when leading scorer Brook Lopez was ruled out for the season with a broken right foot.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN, WGN (Chicago), YES (Brooklyn)

LINE: The Nets opened as 3-point faves and now sit at -2.5. The total has gone down slightly from 188 to 187.5.

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Chicago (-4) - Brooklyn (-3.6) + home court (-3) = Brooklyn -3.4

ABOUT THE BULLS (10-16, 9-17 ATS): Rose is far from the only player missing from coach Tom Thibodeau’s ideal rotation. Kirk Hinrich (back stiffness), Luol Deng (Achilles) and Jimmy Butler (ankle) all sat out Chicago’s 100-84 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, and the trio's status for Wednesday’s game remains up in the air. "It's just one of those seasons,” Deng said of the rash of injuries. “I think we just got to hang in there. … We know what we're capable of when everybody's healthy.”

ABOUT THE NETS (9-18, 11-16 ATS): After a very rocky start to the season, Brooklyn appeared to be turning a corner earlier this month with four wins in five games, but the current skid and Lopez’s injury have chased away any positive vibes. "I think it's getting very close to just accepting losing," coach Jason Kidd said after the loss to the Pacers. The Nets did receive a bit of good news when reserve guard Jason Terry returned to action Monday after missing the previous 15 games with a knee injury, scoring 11 points.

TRENDS:

* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* Bulls are 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings in Brooklyn.
* Over is is 14-5 in the last 19 meetings in Brooklyn.
* Road team in 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. This is the fourth year in a row the Bulls are playing on Christmas, and Chicago is 1-2 in the previous three games.

2. Brooklyn is hosting a Christmas game for the second straight season after losing 93-76 to the Boston Celtics — featuring current Nets Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Terry — last year.

3. Bulls G D.J. Augustin, acquired from Toronto earlier this month, is averaging 13.8 points and eight assists in 37.5 minutes over the past four games.

Thunder at Knicks: What bettors need to know

Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks (+8.5, 200)

The last time Oklahoma City had a long winning streak snap, it answered with an even longer one. The Thunder will try to come back strong again when they hit the road for a Christmas Day contest with the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Oklahoma City has won 17 of its last 19 but had its nine-game winning streak end with a 104-98 home loss to Toronto on Sunday.

The Knicks held on for a 103-98 win at Orlando on Monday but it came at a cost, as star Carmelo Anthony (ankle) and point guard Raymond Felton (groin) left with injuries. Felton's injury came in his first game back after missing six contests with a strained hamstring. "I'm concerned (about Anthony) but I'm not as worried about him as I'm worried about Ray, the way he came back and then to go down again," reserve guard J.R. Smith told reporters. "It's tough. He's our point guard, for sure." The Knicks are 0-8 against Western Conference teams including an 0-5 mark at home, while the Thunder are 7-1 against the Eastern Conference.

TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ABC, TSN

LINE: The Thunder opened as 8-point road faves and now sit at -8.5. The total has stayed put at 200.

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Oklahoma City (-14) - New York (-3) + home court (-3) = Oklahoma City -8

ABOUT THE THUNDER (22-5, 15-12 ATS): Oklahoma City finished with more turnovers (19) than assists (17) and faded in the fourth quarter against the Raptors, perhaps a result of playing the second game of a back-to-back after a big win at San Antonio. That's far from the norm for a team that boasts two dominant players in Kevin Durant (28.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists) and Russell Westbrook (21.6 points, 6.8 assists, 5.7 rebounds) and a developing supporting cast. Getting to the foul line is pivotal to the Thunder's success, as they lead the NBA at 82.6 percent from the line.

ABOUT THE KNICKS (9-18, 10-17 ATS): The mounting injuries already were a concern for New York with reserve guard Pablo Prigioni (broken toe) and forward Kenyon Martin (abdominal strain) out for prolonged periods and forward Metta World Peace (knee) having missed the past two games. Losing Anthony (26.3 points, 8.8 rebounds) for any amount of time would be crushing, as he has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in every game. Felton (10.5 points, 5.1 assists) also would be a big loss for an already thin backcourt, and the Knicks will need Smith (11.5 points) to step up his production if either player misses more time.

TRENDS:

* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Home team is 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings.
* Thunder are 1-5 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Thunder are 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings in New York.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Oklahoma City is 17-2 when outrebounding its opponent.

2. The Knicks have been outscored by 66 points in the paint over their last four games.

3. The Thunder have won 51 of 53 games since the start of last season when holding the opposition to 42 percent or lower from the field.

Heat at Lakers: What bettors need to know

Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers (+8.5, 207)

Two of the holiday season's most popular attractions do battle Christmas Day as the two-time defending-champion Miami Heat take on the decidedly less star-studded Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Miami comes into the Wednesday evening showdown having escaped with a 121-119 overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks two nights earlier. The Lakers find themselves scrambling to get back to the .500 mark after getting walloped 117-90 by Phoenix.

The matchup was undoubtedly put together with an eye toward Miami's Big Three, led by perennial MVP candidate LeBron James, tangling with Los Angeles' talented trio of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol. But Bryant is out until February with a stress fracture in his knee while Nash continues to miss time with a nerve root irritation. Gasol has been the only reliable option in the struggling Lakers' starting five and faces a tall task against the powerhouse Heat.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, ABC

LINE: The Lakers are 8.5 point home dogs and opening at +8. The total moved from 206.5 to 207.

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Miami (-14.5) - Los Angeles (-5) + home court (-3) = Miami -6.5

ABOUT THE HEAT (21-6, 13-14 ATS): Miami realized early in the season that it would need to regulate its star players' minutes in order to ensure they stay healthy heading into what is hopefully another long playoff run. The Heat employed part of that strategy Monday against the Hawks, giving veteran guard Dwyane Wade the night off to deal what the team called "soreness." It was curious timing - Wade is the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week - but head coach Eric Spoelstra wanted Wade at his best heading into the game against the Lakers.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (13-15, 15-12-1 ATS): Los Angeles wishes its problems could be solved by a little extra rest. The season is quickly spiraling out of control and hit a new low against the up-tempo Suns as the Lakers shot just 37 percent from the field while getting outrebounded by an absurd 62-39 margin. Gasol returned to the lineup against Phoenix after missing the previous game with an upper respiratory infection but looked overmatched against Suns big man Mason Plumlee, who racked up 17 points and 20 rebounds in the one-sided win.

TRENDS:

* Heat are 9-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Heat are 4-1 ATS in the last five meeting in Los Angeles.
* Underdog is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. The teams last met Feb. 10, with the Heat rolling to a 107-97 triumph behind 32 points from James.

2. Wade averages 25 points and 6.5 assists in 19 career regular-season games versus Los Angeles.

3. Miami is 7-2 in Christmas Day games since coming into the league, while the Lakers are 6-8 since 1990.

Rockets at Spurs: What bettors need to know

Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (-7, 209)

The Houston Rockets hope to have star guard James Harden available when they visit the powerful San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. Harden has missed back-to-back games with a sprained ankle and is waiting on the swelling to further subside but indicated to reporters that he hopes to be medically cleared to play against the Spurs. “I will keep icing it and getting treatment and hopefully be ready for Christmas Day,” Harden said.

San Antonio has the fourth-best record in the NBA but one of its six defeats was against the Rockets – a 112-106 home loss on Nov. 30. The Spurs dug themselves a 23-point hole but were unable to recover despite 27 points from Tony Parker. The standout point guard has put together consecutive strong outings since returning from a shin injury and is averaging 24.5 points and eight assists during the stretch after tallying 26 points in Monday’s victory over the Toronto Raptors.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, CSN Houston, CW35 (San Antonio)

LINE: The Spurs have held steady as 7-point home faves. The total has gone down to 209 from 210.

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Houston (-10.5) - San Antonio (-13.8) + home court (-3) = San Antonio -6.3

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (18-11, 15-13-1 ATS): Center Dwight Howard will again be asked to do yeoman work inside if Harden is unable to play. He is averaging 32 points and on 23-of-34 shooting in the two contests and scored 20 or more points in six of the past nine games. Howard is averaging 18.7 points and 13.3 rebounds but has often acquiesced to the Harden on the offensive end and focused more on his rebounding and defensive prowess. He also doesn’t want to hear anything about Houston being shorthanded. “We can’t use that as an excuse,” Howard said after Monday’s loss to Dallas. “It is five-on-five so we’re not going to make that excuse.”

ABOUT THE SPURS (22-6, 15-13 ATS): Struggling Danny Green didn’t start against Toronto but rediscovered his shooting stroke while playing 24 minutes off the bench. Green hit 4-of-6 3-pointers and scored 14 points against the Raptors to match his top scoring output since Nov. 23. The guard had failed to reach double digits in 11 of 14 games before his solid contributions against Toronto. “I didn’t bench him because he wasn’t making shots,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said afterward. “You don’t bench people because they’re not making shots. We changed the look and changed the rotation a little bit. It could change again.”

TRENDS:

* Under is 16-7 in the last 23 meetings in San Antonio.
* Underdog is 13-6 ATS in the last 19 meetings.
* Rockets are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a SU loss.
* Over is 21-5 in the Spurs last 26 home games.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Houston has won two straight meetings after San Antonio won the previous four.

2. Spurs SG Marco Belinelli is second in the NBA with 51.1 percent accuracy from 3-point range.

3. Rockets PG Patrick Beverley will be out 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing surgery on his right hand.

Clippers at Warriors: What bettors need to know

Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors (-2.5, 205)

The Golden State Warriors briefly looked like a legitimate challenger to the Los Angeles Clippers atop the Pacific Division before a hot start cooled off. The Warriors will try to get back into the race when they host the Clippers on Wednesday night. Los Angeles is riding a five-game winning streak and is averaging 113.6 points in that span behind Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

Golden State is built similarly to the Clippers, with Stephen Curry and David Lee playing the Paul-Griffin part and Andrew Bogut matching Jordan as a rebounding and defensive force in the middle. Griffin and Jordan combined for 27 rebounds in a 120-116 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday while Paul put up his customary double-double with 19 points and 13 assists. Lee, who led the league in double-doubles with 56 last season, posted his ninth straight with 28 points and 10 boards in Monday’s 89-81 win at Denver.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), CSN Bay Area (Golden State)

LINE: The Warriors opened as 2-point faves and are now at -2.5. The total hasn't moved from 205.

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Los Angeles (-11) - Golden State (-9.5) + home court (-3) = Golden State -1.5

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (20-9, 17-12 ATS): Doc Rivers had a few things to fix when he took over as head coach of Los Angeles in the summer - installing a consistent defense and a never-say-die attitude were two of the things at the top of the list. The Clippers came back from five points down in the final 26 seconds to force overtime on Sunday, proving Rivers’ message to the team. “We didn’t give up,” Griffin said. “Every single time we came through at the end of the game and in overtime. (Rivers) kept stressing, everybody on the bench was saying, ‘We have time to win this game.’ I think everybody just believed and we got it done.”

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (16-13, 13-14-2 ATS): Golden State has not put together three straight wins since taking four in a row to improve to 8-3 on Nov. 18. Things got a little rocky from there but the Warriors crushed the Lakers 102-83 on Saturday and pulled out a tough victory at Denver on Monday as Andre Iguodala began to look a bit like his old self. Golden State’s rocky stretch coincided with Iguodala’s 12-game absence due to a hamstring injury, and the veteran swingman had his most productive outing in four games since returning with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting and six rebounds in 31 minutes on Monday. Iguodala also improves the team defensively, and the Warriors have held each of their last two opponents under 40 percent from the field.

TRENDS:

* Over is 6-0 in the last six meetings.
* Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Over is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Golden State.
* Clippers are 1-6 ATS in the last seven meetings in Golden State.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Griffin was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday after putting up 26 points and 11.3 rebounds in four games.

2. Lee and Bogut are the first pair of teammates to each record 10 or more rebounds in nine straight games since Charles Barkley and Moses Malone in 1986 for the Philadelphia 76ers.

3. Paul went for 42 points and 15 assists as Los Angeles cruised to a 125-116 home win in the last meeting on Oct. 31.

English Premier League: Boxing Day cheat sheet

We all know Boxing Day was created to house a full-slate of Premier League football and this season is no different. All 20 of England's top-flight clubs take the field but one match played in Manchester stands head and shoulders above the rest as a proper gift to football fans.

Hull v Manchester United (+600, +320, -182)

Why bet Hull: The Tigers have won just once in their last seven matches, but have played well enough to get draws in three-straight - two of which were away fixtures. Hull is a tough squad and fairly tight defensively, but Robbie Brady appears set to miss the holiday schedule, which will hurt the Tigers' attack.

Key players out/doubtful: Robbie Brady, Sone Aluko, Stephen Quinn

Why bet Manchester United: The Red Devils have won back-to-back matches and looked excellent in defeating West Ham in their last effort. Robin van Persie's absence from the squad hasn't been felt as Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and teenage-sensation Adnan Januzaj have carried the scoring load.

Key players out/doubtful: Marouane Fellaini, Robin van Persie, Nani, Michael Carrick

2012-13 fixture result: N/A

Key betting note: United's last six Premier League matches all surpassed the 2.5 goal total.


Aston Villa v Crystal Palace (-110, +250, +350)

Why bet Villa: Once upon a time, Christian Benteke was the toast of Aston Villa. The Belgian has disappointed so far this season, but summer signing Libor Kozak has shouldered the brunt of the scoring responsibility. The big Czech has four goals on the campaign and pulled the side even with Stoke last weekend, before Villa lost. They are slumping of late, but a still a dangerous attacking side that will look ascend the table against the promoted Eagles.

Key players out/doubtful: Ashley Westwood, Jores Okore

Why bet Palace: Palace has three wins in their last six, but still sit in the relegation zone in the table. The side has played miles better under Tony Pulis, but are coming off a tough defeat at the hands of a game Newcastle side last time out. Still, nobody expected Palace to make any real noise in the league, so staying up is the main go0al and some good results over the packed holiday schedule will do wonders.

Key players out/doubtful: Marouane Chamakh, Jerome Thomas, Adlène Guédioura

2012-13 fixture result: N/A

Key betting note: Crystal Palace has just one win in eight away matches this season.


Cardiff v Southampton (+230, +230, +138)

Why bet Cardiff: Cardiff started the season quite well, but that's in the past as the side has hit a bit of a rough patch of late. They were dominated against Liverpool and Luis Suarez in their last match and need to get back on track before they joint fellow promoted club Crystal Palace in the relegation zone. Home to a slumping Southampton is a great start.

Key players out/doubtful: Craig Bellamy

Why bet Southampton: The wheels have most certainly fallen off the Southampton bandwagon of late as the club has plummeted to ninth and have not posted a win since Nov. 9. The rock-solid defense that carried in them in the early stages of the season has looked pedestrian at best of late. They should play a cagey, tight game away at Wales and try to nick a goal on the counter attack to get a positive result.

Key players out/doubtful: Victor Wanyama, Guly, Artur Boruc, Daniel Fox, Pablo Osvaldo

2012-13 fixture result: N/A

Key betting note: Seven of Southampton's eight away games have resulted in Under the 2.5 goal total.


Chelsea v Swansea (-300, +450, +900)

Why bet Chelsea: Not the greatest of results for the Blues in Monday's marquee matchup with Arsenal. A lifeless 0-0 draw was uninspiring, but the London club is different at home. Jose Mourinho will look extend his much-ballyhooed unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge. The Swans are a hobbled side and could be in tough on this trip to London.

Key players out/doubtful: Ryan Bertrand, Marco van Ginkel

Why bet Swansea: Swansea still hasn't hit its full potential this season and could have a hard time doing so with star-player Michu now sidelined for an extended period. The side played well versus Everton Sunday, but a Ross Barkley free kick dashed any hopes for points. Michael Laudrup always his club inspired, but will be attempting to punch above their weight for weeks to come.

Key players out/doubtful: Michu, Nathan Dyer, Álvaro, Michel Vorm

2012-13 fixture result: Chelsea 2, Swansea 0

Key betting note: Chelsea is unbeaten in 17-straight league matches at Stamford Bridge.


Everton v Sunderland (-275, +425, +850)

Why bet Everton: Because they are the best story of the season. Still on one loss, new manager Roberto Martinez has the club playing some fantastic football and Sunday's win at Swansea moved the Toffees up to fifth place, level on 34 points with Chelsea. RB Seamus Coleman has been a key component to the side and had the opening goal in Wales Sunday.

Key players out/doubtful: Gerard Deulofeu, Arouna Koney, Darron Gibson, Tony Hibbert

Why bet Sunderland: Poor Sunderland. The Black Cats are stuck on two wins and sit bottom of the table with 10 points. But all things considered, three draws in their last five matches isn't terrible considering the way the season started. They'll be in tough at Goodison, but Sunderland is a much better side than what we've seen.

Key players out/doubtful: Wes Brown, Keiren Westwood, Carlos Cuéllar

2012-13 fixture result: Everton 2, Sunderland 1

Key betting note: The Black Cats haven't scored in their last six away matches.


Newcastle v Stoke (-133, +280, +425)

Why bet Newcastle: Much like Everton, the Magpies are another good story this season. The side was dismal last season despite bringing in a number of talented players - particularly from France's Ligue 1. This season, all of Alan Pardew's pieces seem to have fallen in place and the team is playing some sparkling football. Yohan Cabaye returned to the XI last weekend and instantly made his presence felt with the game's opening goal.

Key players out/doubtful: Cheick Tioté, Ryan Taylor

Why bet Stoke: Per the norm, the Potters are always a tough side. They have two draws and two wins in their last four games and sit 10th in the table. Gangly striker Peter Crouch is playing well and leading the line with some confidence having picked up a goal last weekend and also has four assists in his last seven matches.

Key players out/doubtful: Matthew Etherington, Robert Huth

2012-13 fixture result: Newcastle 2, Stoke 1

Key betting note: Newcastle is unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches at St. Jame's Park.


Norwich v Fulham (+105, +250, +300)

Why bet Norwich: The Canaries have a tough hill to climb to get into the top 10, but their recent form has been promising and they'll wish for that to continue at the friendly confines of Carrow Road. They have one win and a pair of draws in their last three games and a slumping Fulham side will be the perfect opponent to keep the mood festive in East Anglia.

Key players out/doubtful: Elliott Bennett, Alexander Tettey, Anthony Pilkington

Why bet Fulham: Probably not the best time. The Cottagers have been routinely destroyed in the league and recent performances have been no different. They've lost their last two outings by a combined scored of 8-3 as they've given up four goals to each of Liverpool and Manchester City. This is a side that is destined for the cellar.

Key players out/doubtful: Brede Hangeland, Matthew Briggs

2012-13 fixture result: Norwich 0, Fulham 0

Key betting note: Fulham has allowed at least three goals in its last three matches away from home.


Tottenham Hotspur v West Brom (-188, +333, +600)

Why bet Tottenham: In two games (one EPL, one league cup) with Tim Sherwood at the helm, Spurs have looked more and more dangerous on attack - something that was sorely lacking with Andre Villas-Boas at the helm. A 3-2 victory away to Southampton on the weekend was massive for the side and, surely, their confidence. Still, Spurs need to figure out a way to win at White Hart Lane. They're still leaky on the back line at times, but attacking football could be back in at Tottenham.

Key players out/doubtful: Paulinho, Jan Vertonghen, Younes Kaboul, Andros Townsend

Why bet West Brom: The Baggies have been abysmal of late and, like Southampton, have two points from the previous six matches. A 1-1 draw versus Hull snapped a dreadful four-match losing skid and they'll look to prey on a dismal home team. Spurs rank 13th in home form and have just 11 points from eight matches at White Hart Lane this season.

Key players out/doubtful: N/A

2012-13 fixture result: Spurs 1, West Brom 1

Key betting note: West Brom hasn't won in seven-straight league matches.


West Ham v Arsenal (+550, +300, -163)

Why bet West Ham: The Hammers are home. That's about all there is to say about this side. They show no inspiration moving the ball forward and injuries remain a huge concern for the club. They were picked apart easily by Manchester United in their last effort and the second-place Gunners will look to do the same.

Key players out/doubtful: Mladen Petric, Winston Reid, Ricardo Vaz Te, Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, James Tomkins

Why bet Arsenal: The Gunners face big games over the holidays and must get results to keep up the pace with Liverpool and Man City. Jack Wilshere will miss the second of a two-match ban, but Theo Walcott should get the nod in his spot. The North London club will look for full points coming off a 0-0 draw with Chelsea Monday.

Key players out/doubtful: Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Yaya Sanogo, Laurent Koscielny, Mikel Arteta

2012-13 fixture result: West Ham 1, Arsenal 3

Key betting note: The Hammers have lost eight of the previous 10 Premier League meetings with Arsenal.


Manchester City v Liverpool (-133, +320, +360)

Why bet Manchester City: Their cannot be a club as feared at home as much as Manchester City at the moment. In ALL of Europe. They have a full 24 points from eight matches at home and have scored 35 goals while conceding just five. They look vulnerable on the road, true, but the Etihad has become a fortress. The Aguero injury could be pause for concern, but when considering just how good Negredo has been, the Argentine's absence won't be overly noticeable.

Key players out/doubtful: Sergio Agüero, Stevan Jovetic, Matija Nastasic, Micah Richards

Why bet Liverpool: Their cannot be a player as feared in the entire universe as much as Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan's goalscoring record is well documented, but it seems to be infectious for the entire side. Jordan Henderson's performance in the thumping of Cardiff was a thing of beauty, while Coutinho and Sterling continue to impress as the supporting cast of Liverpool's talisman. Whatever happens, Sunday's marquee fixture should be electric.

Key players out/doubtful: José Enrique, Daniel Sturridge, Steven Gerrard

2012-13 fixture result: Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2

Key betting note: Man City has scored at least three goals in its last six matches at the Etihad Stadium.

Betting Line Moves

Kansas State -3 -115 released two weeks ago
Auburn +9

WINNING POINTS

PRO BASKETBALL

*Brooklyn over Chicago by 4
Derrick Rose out and Deron Williams in tilts the balance of power in favor of
Brooklyn. Chicago was 3-9 ATS in its last 12 away games through Dec. 17.
BROOKLYN 95-91.

Oklahoma City over *New York by 8
Small market Oklahoma City wouldn't mind putting on a huge scoring show at
Madison Square Garden in this nationally televised matchup. Carmelo Anthony can
keep up with Kevin Durant, but the Knicks are overwhelmed at the other spots.
OKLAHOMA CITY 111-103.

Miami over *Los Angeles Lakers by 7
LeBron James and Dwayne Wade shouldn't lack for motivation when facing Kobe
Bryant. Miami has defeated the Lakers six of the past seven times.
MIAMI 102-95.

**PREFERRED
*San Antonio over Houston by 15
Gregg Popovich should have his Spurs prepared and motivated after the Rockets dealt
San Antonio its first home loss of the season. Houston ranked in the bottom six defensively and were second-to-last in free throw percentage.
SAN ANTONIO 120-105.

Los Angeles Clippers over *Golden State by 3
The Clippers have had plenty of time to game plan having been idle since Sunday. The
Warriors had no answer for Chris Paul during the team's first meeting in losing, 126-
115, on October 31 as Paul contributed a strong 42 points and 15 assists.
LA CLIPPERS 114-111.

THE GOLD SHEET

PRO BASKETBALL

BROOKLYN 99- Chicago 83—First meeting of season between these sides
who were involved in a rugged 7-game first-round East playoff matchup last
season when Bulls won Game Seven at Barclays Center. Nets have a much
different look this season and seem to have pulled out of their lurch once Paul
Pierce and Deron Williams returned to active duty, winning 4 of 5 SU prior to
shocking home loss to Wizards on Dec. 18. Bottom line is that we are reluctant
to back Bulls minus Derrick Rose, as offense was already lacking an extra
outside shooter or two before his latest knee injury. Chicago no covers last
seven thru Dec. 18. 12-CHI -5 83-82 (184), BRO -3' 93-89 (181), CHI -4' 96-85
(178), Chi +5 92-90 (188), BRO -4' 106-89 (182), Chi +5 90-82 (183), CHI -3' 79-
76 (181), CHI -2' 142-134 (3OT-177), BRO -6' 110-91 (180), Bro +1 95-92 (184),
Chi +7 99-93 (183)

Oklahoma City 105 - NEW YORK 96—Return of Tyson Chandler to the New
York fold just in time for this Christmas clash at least gives the Knicks some
presence in the paint to impede Kevin Durant’s raids to the bucket.
Interestingly, New York covered both meetings last season and won outright by
5 at Ford Center. Carmelo Anthony capable of rising to the occasion. But would
rather back Thunder and extended hot streak that had seen them win seven in
a row thru Dec. 18, score 110.1 ppg and shoot 50% from floor in the process. 12-
Okc -8 95-94 (205), Ny +7' 125-120 (195)

Miami 101 - LA LAKERS 89—This matchup has lost some of its luster now
that Kobe is sidelined once again (Lake Show not nearly as interesting to the
networks minus Bryant), although we suppose we might hear some of the
LeBron free-agent talk and watch him field questions about a possible move to
L.A. next season (very unlikely, but someone will ask, just watch).
Acknowledge that Lakers covered 7 of 8 before Kobe returned to lineup earlier
this month, but Heat usually buckle down when they need to in these sorts of
spots, and Miami has offered pretty good value as road chalk (7-3 in role to
date). 12-Mia +2 99-90 (207), MIA -9 107-97 (204)

Night Games
SAN ANTONIO 107 - Houston 97—How many Christmas games are there,
anyway? Spurs in revenge mode after losing by 6 vs. Houston at AT&T Center
back on Nov. 30. Fundamentals proved a bit tricky that night for Spurs, who
were clobbered by 54-33 count on the boards and saw their “Hack-a-Howard”
strategy backfire in the 4th Q when big Dwight made some free throws. But it
was also Chandler Parsons and James Harden (combined 56 points) as well as
unsung F Terrence Jones (16 boards) who bedeviled Spurs that night. Expect
Coach Pop to address the rebounding deficiencies in rematch, and if Howard
has to go the charity stripe, let’s see him shoot 63% again as he did in first
meetings. 13-Hou +6' 112-106 (205); 12-SAN -8' 114-92 (212), San -7 134-126
(OT-212), SAN -8 122-116 (213), HOU +1 96-95 (212)

GOLDEN ST. 117 - LA Clippers 112—Chance for Golden State to get some
revenge vs. Clippers for 126-115 loss at Staples Center in first week of season.
L.A. was looking for some payback that night after losing 4 of 5 vs. Warriors last
season, although the enduring trend in this series was another “over” in first
meeting after that way in all four clashes a year ago. Prefer that “totals” trend
slightly over Golden State revenge angle, which might be a bit tricky for Warriors
unless their bench matches points with L.A.’s capable reserves. 13-LA -6' 126-
115 (205); 12-Gs +8' 114-110 (198), GS +2 115-94 (200), LA -6' 115-89 (202),
GS +4 106-99 (198)

POINTWISE

NBA
BASKETBALL

(12:05) BROOKLYN NETS 103 - Chicago Bulls 93 (ESPN) _____ _____

(2:30) NY KNICKS 100 - Oklahoma City 99 (ABC) _____ _____

(5:00) Miami Heat 106 - LA LAKERS 101 (ABC) _____ _____

(8:05) SAN ANTONIO 113 - Houston Rockets (ESPN) _____ _____

(10:35) LA Clippers 120 - GOLDEN ST 119 (ESPN) _____ _____

BEST BETS
BROOKLYN (2)
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS