NBA News and Notes

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NBA News and Notes
December 8, 2009

Banged-Up Studs, Who's Hot, and the Top 20 Second-year Players

The ebb and flow of betting on pro basketball is unlike any other sport. With only 12 guys on a team, it can take just one injured player to ruin the season for the remaining 11. On the flipside, a hot hand or a developing young stud can make the difference between winning and losing. You have to be on top of these things to keep your bankroll increasing, which is where we come in.

Timber!

The biggest injury news of the week concerns Portland (13-9 SU, 10-12 ATS) center Greg Oden. This was shaping up to be a breakthrough season for the former No. 1 overall pick from Ohio State; despite a sluggish start, Oden was approaching All-Star numbers with 18.6 points and 14.2 rebounds per 40 minutes. But it all came crashing down last week, when Oden fractured his left patella against Houston.

This could actually help Portland, at least against the NBA odds. Oden is such an anomaly at center that the team?s offense seems to flow better when Joel Przybilla is on the floor. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge have both seen their production levels drop this year while Oden?s rose. Now the Blazers can get back to what was working for them last year, when they went 54-28 SU and solid 45-36 ATS.

Granger in Danger

Indiana (6-12 SU and ATS) won?t find any silver lining if they have to go without their best player for an extended period of time. Danny Granger (26.6 points, 6.7 rebounds per 40 minutes) aggravated a heel injury against the Clippers last week and had an MRI done on Monday. Results of that MRI were pending, but the fear in the Indiana dressing room is that Granger is going to be offline for a while.


As with the Blazers, the Pacers have another starting-quality small forward in Mike Dunleavy, who has played well off the bench in five games since returning from an injury (knee). But the Pacers were counting on Dunleavy to eat up the minutes they were giving to Brandon Rush (10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds per 40), who has been very disappointing as their starting shooting guard. And without Granger, Indiana?s leading scorer would be none other than guard Dahntay Jones, who is known for defense.

Who?s Hot

Put some oven mitts on before handling any of these five players because they are en fuego.

Kevin Love, Minnesota: In two games since returning from a broken hand, Love has a pair of double-doubles and has hit four of his six bombs from downtown. The Wolves went 1-1 SU and 2-0 ATS.

Chris Paul, New Orleans: CP3 made his return from an ankle sprain against Love and the Wolves and immediately put on the afterburners with 16 points, 15 assists and six rebounds in 39 minutes. The Hornets won, but didn't cover.

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City: Durant is starting to look very Jordanesque with an average of 31 points and eight rebounds over his past five games.

Tim Duncan, San Antonio: It?s just like old times for the former MVP with averages of 21.0 PPG, 10.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists over the past 10 games ? plus, in a new wrinkle, 2.4 steals.

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas: The German product dropped 32 points on the Hawks on Saturday with nine rebounds and four blocks; has scored at least 25 points in nine of his last 12 games.

Top 20 Sophomores

Using John Hollinger?s Player Efficiency Rating metric, here are the NBA?s best second-year players as of press time (minimum 200 minutes played).

1. Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 23.7
2. Greg Oden, Portland 23.3
3. Marc Gasol, Memphis 20.5
4. Ryan Anderson, Orlando 20.3
5. Brook Lopez, New Jersey 19.9
6. Anthony Randolph, Golden State 18.7
7. Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee 18.2
8. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City 16.9
9. Jason Thompson, Sacramento 16.9
10. Eric Gordon, Los Angeles 16.7
11. Danilo Gallinari, New York 16.7
12. Roy Hibbert, Indiana 16.1
13. Michael Beasley, Miami 16.1
14. Donte Greene, Sacramento 15.7
15. Chris Douglas-Roberts, New Jersey 15.1
16. Anthony Morrow, Golden State 15.1
17. O.J. Mayo, Memphis 14.8
18. Rudy Fernandez, Portland 14.7
19. Derrick Rose, Chicago 14.4
20. J.J. Hickson, Cleveland 14.2

 

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Trend Report - Tuesday

Trend Report - Tuesday

Trend Report - Tuesday

Nuggets at Bobcats - The Nuggets are 9-0 ATS (8.4 ppg) since January 22, 2007 as a favorite after a game in which they scored more than 30% of their points from the three-point line. The Nuggets are 6-0 ATS (7.8 ppg) since March 22, 2004 with no rest when their DPS was minus 15 points or less in their previous game. The Bobcats are 9-0 ATS (14.9 ppg) since March 04, 2008 off a win in which they trailed by 10+ points.

Nets at Bulls - The Nets are 0-6-1 ATS (-10.1 ppg) since January 05, 2005 as a dog after a loss in which they had at least 10 more personal fouls than their opponent. The Nets are 0-6 ATS (-5.4 ppg) since January 27, 2008 on the road after a game on the road after a loss in which they made more baskets than their opponent. The League is 8-0 ATS (14.1 ppg) since January 02, 2009 as a favorite with two or more days of rest after a loss in which they controlled 40% or less of the available rebounds. The Bulls are 0-7 ATS (-7.3 ppg) since March 07, 2005 after a loss in which they shot at least twenty three-pointers and made less than a 25% of them. The Bulls are 7-0 ATS (9.4 ppg) since April 15, 2005 as a home favorite after a double digit loss in which their DPS was minus 15 points or less.


Bucks at Celtics - The Bucks are 0-8 ATS (-7.2 ppg) since February 22, 2006 as a road dog with at most one day of rest off a home loss in which they led by 10+ points. The Bucks are 0-6 ATS (-11.2 ppg) since April 25, 1999 on the road after a game at home in which they had more turnovers than assists. The Celtics are 0-7 ATS (-5.9 ppg) since May 01, 1999 as a home favorite with at least one day of rest after a double digit road win in which they shot at least 55% from the field.

Magic at Clippers - The Magic are 0-10 ATS (-10.4 ppg) since February 01, 2008 as a favorite after a win in which they scored more than 25% of their points from the free throw line. The Clippers are 0-11 ATS (-10.5 ppg) since February 10, 1999 with two or more days of rest after a game at home in which they had more turnovers than assists. The League is 0-11-1 ATS (-7.7 ppg) since March 13, 2005 as a home dog with two or more days of rest off a win in which their leading scrorer for that game had fewer than 20 points. The Clippers are 0-9 ATS (-8.5 ppg) since December 18, 2002 as a home dog when they held their opponent to fewer than 85 points in their last game.

Cavaliers at Grizzlies - The Cavaliers are 7-0 ATS (7.2 ppg) since November 11, 2007 as a road favorite vs non-conference opponent in their first match-up of the season. The League is 0-10 ATS (-9.0 ppg) since January 16, 2009 as a home dog with two or more days of rest after a game in which less than 45% of their baskets were assisted. The Grizzlies are 0-9 ATS (-8.8 ppg) since November 20, 2000 at home after playing at home against the Mavericks. The Grizzlies are 0-8 ATS (-11.7 ppg) since November 21, 2007 after a home win in which they outshot their opponent by at least 10 percent. The Grizzlies are 7-0 ATS (5.9 ppg) since December 28, 2001 after a double digit win in which they were whistled for fewer than 15 personal fouls.

Kings at Hornets - The Kings are 8-0 ATS (10.1 ppg) since February 01, 2008 versus the Hornets. The Kings are 6-0 ATS (12.8 ppg) since May 03, 2005 as a dog after a double digit home loss in which they were outshot by at least 10 percent. The Kings are 0-6 ATS (-8.2 ppg) since November 29, 2008 when they allowed at least ten points more than their season-to-date average for two straight games. The Hornets are 0-8 ATS (-10.1 ppg) since February 01, 2008 versus the Kings.

Suns at Mavericks - The Suns are 10-0 ATS (11.3 ppg) since January 30, 1996 on the road with at least one day of rest after a game on the road in which their DPS was minus 15 points or less. The Mavericks are 9-0 ATS (7.5 ppg) since December 19, 1996 after a loss against the Hawks.

Timberwolves at Raptors - The Timberwolves are 8-0 ATS (10.3 ppg) since December 17, 1997 as a road dog when playing an isolated non-conference opponent (vs non-conf with two conf opponents before and after). The Timberwolves are 7-0 ATS (10.8 ppg) since December 11, 2001 with two or more days of rest after a win in which they shot at least 55% from the field. The Timberwolves are 0-6 ATS (-6.2 ppg) since November 13, 2005 as a dog with two or more days of rest off a home win in which they trailed by 10+ points. The Raptors are 10-0 ATS (9.9 ppg) since December 15, 2004 versus the Timberwolves.

 

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Weekly Notes - East

Weekly Notes - East

Weekly Notes - East


Weekly Notes - Western Conference

1- Orlando
Weekly Rewind: The Magic have ripped off five straight wins, two of them coming last week. The club has gone 3-2 against the spread during this run and the offense (110.2 PPG) has helped the 'over' go 4-1. What's more impressive is that four of the five victories came on the road.

Weekly Outlook: Orlando started its four-game West Coast swing on Saturday by running past Golden State (126-118). They'll complete the trip this week with contest at the Clippers, Jazz and Suns. The Phoenix matchup will be a back-to-back spot. Stan Van Gundy's team is 3-1 both SU and ATS on zero days rest this year.

2 ? Boston

Weekly Rewind: The Celtics have been heating up the hardwood as well, winning all of their last seven games (5-2 ATS). Last week, the team completed their four-game road trip with three wins against the Bobcats (108-90), Spurs (90-83) and Thunder (105-87).

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Weekly Outlook: Boston returns home for one game against Milwaukee on Tuesday but quickly heads on the road again. The Celtics meet the Wizards on Thursday and then the Bulls on Saturday. Doc Rivers' club owns a league-best 9-1 (6-4 ATS) record on the road this year.

3 ? Cleveland

Weekly Rewind: The Cavaliers continued to stay hot last week by posting three wins both SU and ATS. Cleveland won all three games by double digits and all three opponents were held to 90 points or less. The 'under' went 3-0.

Weekly Outlook: Cleveland has four contests on tap this week and three come on the road. Starting Tuesday, the team heads to Memphis before playing at Houston the very next night. They welcome Portland to Quicken Loans Arena on Friday before heading back on the road Sunday for a game at Oklahoma City.

4 ? Atlanta

Weekly Rewind: After destroying the Raptors (146-115) on Wednesday the Hawks were caught in a letdown loss on Friday against the Knicks (107-114). Sure enough, Atlanta bounced back on Saturday with a road victory against Dallas (80-75) as a five-point road underdog. On the year, the Hawks are 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS as road underdogs.

Weekly Outlook: The Hawks own the best record against the spread (14-6) this year but gamblers might want to tread lightly on them this week, since the numbers should be high. Chicago visits Philips Arena on Wednesday and New Jersey also heads South on Sunday. Sandwiched between that pair is road battle at Toronto on Friday.

5 ? Miami

Weekly Rewind: Miami completed its four-game road trip Sunday with a 115-102 win over Sacramento. The Heat went 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS yet they were one win away from winning three games but Kobe Bryant's dagger on Friday was a tough way to lose. The offense got rolling again, which helped the 'over' go 3-1.

Weekly Outlook: The Heat catch a five-day break from the schedule makers. Just two games this week and both are at American Airlines Arena. Dallas comes to town on Friday and then Memphis visits on Sunday.

6 - Milwaukee

Weekly Rewind: The Bucks started the week with a home victory over Chicago (99-97) but wound up ending the week with three losses, including a double-digit setback on Sunday to Cleveland (86-101). Scott Skiles is known for his defense as a coach but it's been missing in Milwaukee. In the last 10, seven teams have busted the century mark, which has helped the 'over' go 9-1.

Weekly Outlook: After starting 8-3, the Bucks are 1-7 in their last 10 and this week's upcoming schedule isn't exactly easy. After facing Boston on the road Tuesday, Milwaukee will face Toronto at home on zero days rest. Then, a good Portland team visits Bradley Center on Saturday.

8 - Charlotte

Weekly Rewind: The Bobcats were brought back to life on Monday by Boston, who defeated them 108-90 at home. After this setback, Charlotte helped New Jersey (91-97) win its first game of the season. Larry Brown's did bounce back against Philadelphia (106-105) but they failed to cover the number. All three games went 'over' last week.

Weekly Outlook: Charlotte is going to find out how good it really is this week when it faces three contenders from the Western Conference. The Nuggets visit North Carolina on Tuesday and then the Bobcats play two games in two nights starting on Friday at San Antonio. The second contest of the set concludes Saturday at Dallas.

8 - Toronto

Weekly Rewind: The Raptors started the week by giving up combined 252 points to the Wizards (106) and Hawks (146), which resulted in a pair of losses. Fortunately, the team bounced back with a pair of victories against the aforementioned Washington team and Chicago, both coming on the road too.

Weekly Outlook: If Toronto plays defense (109.3 PPG), it has a great shot to win games. Six times this season, they've held teams under 100 points and the Raptors are 6-0 in those contests. Unfortunately, they are 3-13 in their other games. This week, Toronto has four games on the schedule and three are at home.

9 - Washington

Weekly Rewind: The Wizards started the week off with two wins but closed with two losses. All of the games were decided by four points or less, which shows that the team is getting a little more competitive. Still, gamblers watched Washington go 1-3 ATS.

Weekly Outlook: Head coach Flip Saunders and the Wizards should have no reason for excuses this week since they'll be rested and playing at home. Boston visits D.C. On Thursday for a TNT showdown and then Indiana comes to town on Saturday.

10 - Chicago

Weekly Rewind: The Bulls continue be inconsistent, especially on offense. The club averaged 88.5 PPG last week, which produced a 1-3 record both SU and ATS last week. The 'under' went 3-1 and until Chicago can find some scoring, this looks like a solid wager going forward.

Weekly Outlook: Chicago has four games this week and they'll face back-to-back spots twice. They catch the Nets and Hawks on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then, the Bulls host the Warriors and Celtics on Friday and Saturday. Gamblers should note that five of Chicago's seven wins have come at home.

11 - Detroit

Weekly Rewind: Detroit held serve at home this week, going 2-0 both SU and ATS. They did go 0-1 on the road but the defense held all three opponents under the century mark.

Weekly Outlook: The Pistons have three games this week, with two coming at The Palace of Auburn Hills. They'll catch the 76ers on the road Tuesday before heading home. The two games in Michigan should be fun to watch, with the Nuggets and Warriors visiting.

12 - Indiana

Weekly Rewind: The Pacers got a rude welcoming on the West Coast this past week. The club went 0-4 both SU and ATS, losing the quartet by an average of 12.3 PPG. Indiana is 6-12 both SU and ATS on the year. We mention those numbers because they've covered every game they won, and failed to cover in all the losses.

Weekly Outlook: Indiana returns home this week with a game against Portland on Wednesday and New Jersey on Friday. They will have to play two games in two nights on Saturday with a quick road trip to Washington. The Pacers are 2-7 both SU and ATS on the road.

13 ? New York

Weekly Rewind: The Knicks are coming off their most productive week of the season, posting a 3-1 ledger both SU and ATS. Victories against the Suns (126-109) and Hawks (114-107) showed the team can play with anybody when their shots are falling. The defense continues to be a concern at MSG, but they did hold two opponents under 100 points last week.

Weekly Outlook: New York has a chance to upset another Western Conference foe on Monday when Portland visits the Garden. This will be the second game in two nights for Knicks and they are 0-4 on zero days rest this season. After this contest, the club starts a three-game road trip on Friday at New Orleans.

14 - Philadelphia

Weekly Rewind: The 76ers are in trouble and they appear to be desperate. They've dropped nine in a row, including all three of their games last week. The team was competitive in road losses to Dallas (102-104) and Charlotte (105-106), which helped them cover the number. Philadelphia gave up 100-plus in all three, which helped the 'over' go 3-0.

Weekly Outlook: Fortunately for Philadelphia, it gets to play five in a row at Wachovia Center, including three this week. Also, the team should get a boost with Allen Iverson making his return to the city. Ironically, the 76ers host Denver on Monday, the team they traded Iverson to a couple seasons ago. The 76ers are 3-5 SU and 1-7 ATS at home.

15 ? New Jersey

Weekly Rewind: Finally, the Nets snapped their 18-game losing streak on Friday by defeating Charlotte (97-91) at home. Unfortunately, the team couldn't build off that momentum. On Sunday, they lost to cross-town rival New York (97-106) on Sunday.

Weekly Outlook: New Jersey has another busy week on tap with four games and three of them are on the road. After playing at Chicago on Tuesday, the team returns home for a back-to-back spot against Golden State. Then they conclude the weekend at Indiana and Atlanta.

 

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Weekly Notes - West

Weekly Notes - West

Weekly Notes - West
December 8, 2009
Weekly Notes - Eastern Conference

1 - Lakers

Weekly Rewind: The Champs have continued to roll, now riding a nine-game winning streak heading into the week. The Lakers won all three games this week, including Kobe Bryant's game-winning three-pointer against the Heat on Friday. L.A. demolished Phoenix for the second time this season on Sunday, as the Lakers are 6-3 ATS during this hot streak.

Weekly Outlook: The Lakers wrap up their six-game homestand this week, hosting the Jazz on Wednesday and Timberwolves on Friday. Los Angeles hits the road for a five-game trip that starts in Salt Lake on Saturday against Utah.

2 - Nuggets

Weekly Rewind: Following the embarrassing loss to Minnesota last Sunday, the Nuggets swept through the week with three victories. Denver destroyed Golden State and Miami at home, prior to a solid road victory at San Antonio on Saturday. The Nuggets have won nine of 11, with the two losses coming to the T'wolves and Clippers.

Weekly Outlook: Denver heads east for three games, while playing four games in six nights. The Nuggets face old friend Allen Iverson and the Sixers Monday in Philadelphia, before a trip down to Charlotte on Tuesday. Denver heads to Detroit on Thursday, prior to a home showdown with Phoenix on Saturday.

3 - Suns

Weekly Rewind: Phoenix has stumbled recently, dropping three of four games. The Suns' lone win this week came over the Kings at home on Saturday. Phoenix dropped all three road games against the Knicks, Cavs, and Lakers, as the Suns were down big at the half in each defeat.

Weekly Outlook: Things don't get easier for Alvin Gentry's team this week, as the Suns battle the Mavs and Nuggets on the road, and the Magic at home. Phoenix will be tested Saturday, as they head to the altitude of Denver with no rest following the Orlando matchup on Friday.

4 - Mavericks

Weekly Rewind: Dallas is coming off its second straight week playing four games, as the Mavs wore out to finish off the week by losing two straight. The Mavs squeaked by the Sixers with a buzzer-beater on Monday, then dominated the Nets on Wednesday. Dallas slipped up as a road favorite at Memphis on Friday, prior to an ugly home loss to Atlanta on Saturday.

Weekly Outlook: Dallas will try to rebound on Tuesday, hosting the struggling Suns. The Mavs travel to Miami on Friday to battle a Heat team that will have four days off, coming off their four-game road trip. Dallas returns home Saturday with no rest to host Charlotte.

5 - Blazers

Weekly Rewind: Portland has been a solid 'fade' recently, dropping its last five games against the number. The Blazers played just two games this past week, falling to the Heat and edging the Rockets at home. Things got even worse for Portland, as former top pick Greg Oden was lost for the season with a leg injury against Houston.

Weekly Outlook: The Blazers will try to turn around their luck on the East Coast, playing four games in six nights. Portland heads to the Big Apple on Monday to take on New York, who beat New Jersey on Sunday. The Blazers travel to Indiana on Wednesday, prior to a meeting with LeBron James and the Cavs on Friday. Portland wraps up its trip on Saturday at Milwaukee.

6 - Rockets

Weekly Rewind: Houston completed a successful four-game road trip with a 3-1 SU/ATS mark. The Rockets knocked off the Clippers on Wednesday in convincing fashion, before slipping past the Warriors on Thursday in Oakland. Houston gave away a late lead in a one-point loss at Portland on Saturday, but the Rockets are 8-2 ATS this season as an underdog.



Weekly Outlook: The Rockets return home for three days of rest before hosting the Cavs on Wednesday, as Cleveland plays the second of a back-to-back. Houston travels to the Northeast for a pair of games at Philadelphia (Friday) and Toronto (Sunday).

7 - Jazz

Weekly Rewind: Utah has been playing extremely well, despite slipping up at Minnesota on Saturday. The Jazz have won seven of nine, as Utah picked up home victories this past week over the Grizzlies and Pacers. Utah is 8-3 ATS the last 11 games, including covers in four straight home contests.

Weekly Outlook: It will be a trying week for Jerry Sloan's squad, battling the Spurs at home on Monday, prior to a trip to Los Angeles against the Lakers on Wednesday. The Jazz return home on Thursday with no rest to host the Magic, then a rematch with the Lakers on Saturday in Salt Lake.

8 - Spurs

Weekly Rewind: San Antonio played just two games this past week, but the Spurs were on the short end of a pair of seven-point losses to the Celtics and Nuggets. Gregg Popovich's club is 0-3 ATS the last three games, as the Spurs finished a one-month stretch not leaving the state of Texas.

Weekly Outlook: San Antonio travels past state lines this week, heading to Utah on Monday, trying to beat the Jazz for the first time in three tries this season. The Spurs come home for two games to battle the Kings on Wednesday and the Bobcats on Friday. San Antonio begins a three-game road trip on Sunday in L.A. against the Clippers.

9 - Thunder

Weekly Rewind: The Thunder has had some nice home-cooking recently, playing their last four games at the Ford Center. Oklahoma City took the court only twice this week, beating the Sixers and falling to the Celtics. The Thunder has turned into an 'over' machine recently, going 'over' in nine of the last 11 games.

Weekly Outlook: OKC concludes its homestand Monday against Golden State, before a quick trip to Memphis on Friday. The Thunder returns to the Ford Center on Sunday evening to battle the Cavs.

10 - Kings

Weekly Rewind: Sacramento has turned into pointspread gold recently, covering seven of its last nine games. The Kings have done most of this damage at Arco Arena, going 8-3 ATS at home. Paul Westphal's club beat Indiana on Wednesday, prior to consecutive losses to the Suns and Heat to wrap up the week.

Weekly Outlook: The Kings hit the road for a two-game trip starting Tuesday in New Orleans, then Wednesday to San Antonio. Sacramento returns to Arco on Saturday to host a Minnesota squad playing its fourth game in five nights.

11 - Hornets

Weekly Rewind: New Orleans played two games this week, but that was a good thing, as the Hornets got back point guard Chris Paul. The All-Star missed eight games with a sprained ankle, but returned to the lineup Friday in a home victory over Minnesota. The Hornets own a 5-3 ATS mark at home, as four of their next six games are in the Big Easy.

Weekly Outlook: The Hornets hit the court three times this week, beginning with the Kings on Tuesday. New Orleans plays with no rest on Wednesday at Minnesota, then returns home to battle New York on Friday.

12 - Clippers

Weekly Rewind: The Clippers are in the midst of a six-game homestand, going 2-1 SU/ATS through the first three. Los Angeles slipped up against Houston on Wednesday, but bounced back nicely on Saturday against road-weary Indiana. The victory over the Pacers improved the Clippers' mark to 2-5 ATS against teams with no rest.

Weekly Outlook: Los Angeles plays two games this week, but it won't be easy by any stretch. The Clips host the Magic on Tuesday, prior to a Sunday matchup with the Spurs.

13 - Grizzlies

Weekly Rewind: Memphis is coming off a winning week, taking two of three games. The Grizzlies knocked off the T'wolves as road favorites on Wednesday, prior to a home 'dog win over the Mavericks on Friday.

Weekly Outlook: The Grizzlies will be rested for their next contest, hosting the Cavs on Tuesday with three days off. Memphis then hosts Oklahoma City on Friday, before heading to Miami to battle the Heat on Sunday.

14 - Warriors

Weekly Rewind: Golden State finished a disappointing week, going 0-3 SU, with losses to the Nuggets, Rockets, and Magic. The Warriors did cash twice as home 'dogs against Houston and Orlando, improving to 5-1 ATS the last six at Oracle Arena.

Weekly Outlook: Time to hit the road again for Golden State, as the Warriors venture east for five games. Golden State does battle four sub-.500 teams on this trip, with four games over the next six days. The Warriors hook up with the Thunder on Monday, the hapless Nets on Wednesday, then play on a back-to-back at Chicago and Detroit starting Friday.

15 - Timberwolves

Weekly Rewind: Minnesota has turned into a cash register recently, covering each of its last four games. The T'wolves barely covered against the Grizzlies and Hornets in SU losses, but knocked off the Jazz on Saturday as 7 ?-point home underdogs.

Weekly Outlook: It's a busy week for Kurt Rambis' team, playing four games. Minnesota heads to Toronto on Tuesday, then hosts New Orleans on Wednesday. The T'wolves travel west on Friday to take on the Lakers, before a trip to Sacramento against the Kings on Saturday.