Game: Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs
Tip-off: 8:35 pm ET
Line: San Antonio - 9
Total: 176.5
Angles/Analyses:
The San Antonio Spurs seek their 12th straight victory on Saturday when they host the Miami Heat, who have had little success at the Alamodome.
San Antonio has its longest winning streak since a franchise-record 17-game tear from February 29-March 31, 1996. On Thursday, the Spurs edged Dallas, 105-102, to move into a first-place tie with the Mavericks atop the Midwest Division.
Tim Duncan had 32 points and 14 rebounds and David Robinson added 22 and 12 for the Spurs, who have won two of their three meetings with the Mavericks this season and are just 2 1/2 games behind Sacramento for the top spot in the Western Conference.
The Spurs hit just two baskets but sank 10-of-13 free throws in the last four minutes. They were 14-of-22 from the line in the fourth quarter while the Mavericks were only 5-of-8.
Miami lost an important game to Indiana at home on Friday, 104-94. Alonzo Mourning and Eddie Jones each scored 20 points for the Heat, who fell into a tie for ninth with Washington, 3 1/2 games behind Indiana and Charlotte, who are tied for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Eddie House added 18 points off the bench for the Heat, who have lost three of their last five games.
San Antonio is 13-1 all time at the Alamodome against Miami. The Spurs' sole loss to the Heat at home occurred on December 23, 1996. San Antonio has won three in a row at home against Miami since then.
Miami won the teams' prior meeting this season, 88-83 on February 1. Rod Strickland had 17 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer to make it 84-81 with 2:07 left as the shot clock was expiring. It was just his second shot from the arc this season.
Jones had 24 points and eight rebounds for the Heat, while Duncan had 29 and 12 for the Spurs.
Favorable Trends:
Miami:
3-1 ATS in the last four meetings
Pick2Play: Miami + 9 (5 units)
==============================================
Game: Portland at Minnesota
Tip-off: 8:05 pm ET
Line: Minnesota - 2
Total: 188
Angles/Analyses:
The Portland Trail Blazers, the hottest team in the NBA since the All-Star break, can move into fifth place in the Western Conference standings when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Portland is 17-3 since the All-Star break and has tied Minnesota in the standings. The Timberwolves had lost seven straight before winning their last two contests.
Rasheed Wallace led seven players in double figures with 19 points as Portland improved to 2-1 on a four-game road trip with a 109-93 victory at Chicago on Friday. Derek Anderson came off the bench for 16 points and Dale Davis made 6-of-8 shots for 14.
Portland built a 54-46 halftime lead and never looked back as it was able to rest its starters in preparation for Saturday's game. Wallace, Anderson and Steve Kerr each made three 3-pointers as the Trail Blazers made 10-of-18 from beyond the arc.
The Blazers have won eight of their last 10 road games.
Minnesota managed to hold on for a 95-93 victory at Memphis on Thursday. The Timberwolves used a 10-0 run for an 89-80 lead with 4:41 remaining and Kevin Garnett's two foul shots with 34 seconds left sealed the triumph.
Garnett collected 25 points and 14 rebounds while Chauncey Billups added 19 points. The Timberwolves won despite a tough outing from All-Star guard Wally Szczerbiak, who made only 2-of-11 shots for four points.
Minnesota won the first two meetings with Portland this season, including a 113-103 victory here on February 6. Szczerbiak scored 30 points to lead the Timberwolves, who withstood a 35-point performance by Bonzi Wells.
Portland finally posted a victory in the series with an 85-78 win on March 6. Wallace finished with 28 points and 15 rebounds
Favorable Trends:
Portland:
8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Minnesota:
1-8 ATS in their last nine games overall
Pick2Play: Portland + 2 (5 units)
Good Luck!
Picks2Play
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Tip-off: 8:35 pm ET
Line: San Antonio - 9
Total: 176.5
Angles/Analyses:
The San Antonio Spurs seek their 12th straight victory on Saturday when they host the Miami Heat, who have had little success at the Alamodome.
San Antonio has its longest winning streak since a franchise-record 17-game tear from February 29-March 31, 1996. On Thursday, the Spurs edged Dallas, 105-102, to move into a first-place tie with the Mavericks atop the Midwest Division.
Tim Duncan had 32 points and 14 rebounds and David Robinson added 22 and 12 for the Spurs, who have won two of their three meetings with the Mavericks this season and are just 2 1/2 games behind Sacramento for the top spot in the Western Conference.
The Spurs hit just two baskets but sank 10-of-13 free throws in the last four minutes. They were 14-of-22 from the line in the fourth quarter while the Mavericks were only 5-of-8.
Miami lost an important game to Indiana at home on Friday, 104-94. Alonzo Mourning and Eddie Jones each scored 20 points for the Heat, who fell into a tie for ninth with Washington, 3 1/2 games behind Indiana and Charlotte, who are tied for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Eddie House added 18 points off the bench for the Heat, who have lost three of their last five games.
San Antonio is 13-1 all time at the Alamodome against Miami. The Spurs' sole loss to the Heat at home occurred on December 23, 1996. San Antonio has won three in a row at home against Miami since then.
Miami won the teams' prior meeting this season, 88-83 on February 1. Rod Strickland had 17 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer to make it 84-81 with 2:07 left as the shot clock was expiring. It was just his second shot from the arc this season.
Jones had 24 points and eight rebounds for the Heat, while Duncan had 29 and 12 for the Spurs.
Favorable Trends:
Miami:
3-1 ATS in the last four meetings
Pick2Play: Miami + 9 (5 units)
==============================================
Game: Portland at Minnesota
Tip-off: 8:05 pm ET
Line: Minnesota - 2
Total: 188
Angles/Analyses:
The Portland Trail Blazers, the hottest team in the NBA since the All-Star break, can move into fifth place in the Western Conference standings when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Portland is 17-3 since the All-Star break and has tied Minnesota in the standings. The Timberwolves had lost seven straight before winning their last two contests.
Rasheed Wallace led seven players in double figures with 19 points as Portland improved to 2-1 on a four-game road trip with a 109-93 victory at Chicago on Friday. Derek Anderson came off the bench for 16 points and Dale Davis made 6-of-8 shots for 14.
Portland built a 54-46 halftime lead and never looked back as it was able to rest its starters in preparation for Saturday's game. Wallace, Anderson and Steve Kerr each made three 3-pointers as the Trail Blazers made 10-of-18 from beyond the arc.
The Blazers have won eight of their last 10 road games.
Minnesota managed to hold on for a 95-93 victory at Memphis on Thursday. The Timberwolves used a 10-0 run for an 89-80 lead with 4:41 remaining and Kevin Garnett's two foul shots with 34 seconds left sealed the triumph.
Garnett collected 25 points and 14 rebounds while Chauncey Billups added 19 points. The Timberwolves won despite a tough outing from All-Star guard Wally Szczerbiak, who made only 2-of-11 shots for four points.
Minnesota won the first two meetings with Portland this season, including a 113-103 victory here on February 6. Szczerbiak scored 30 points to lead the Timberwolves, who withstood a 35-point performance by Bonzi Wells.
Portland finally posted a victory in the series with an 85-78 win on March 6. Wallace finished with 28 points and 15 rebounds
Favorable Trends:
Portland:
8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Minnesota:
1-8 ATS in their last nine games overall
Pick2Play: Portland + 2 (5 units)
Good Luck! Picks2Play
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