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PRO BASKETBALL — April 9

PHILADELPHIA (+6) at CHICAGO (Total 204)
– Philadelphia just can’t get up enough momentum to vault past Miami in the Eastern Conference standings, but the Sixers have covered four of their last five ballgames. Chicago won another home game on Tuesday night,m this one against the Knicks, and though they did not cover, the Bull shave now won 12 of their last 13 at the United Center. After four straight games in which they shot 50% or higher, the Bulls cooled off a little, hitting just 42.7% in wins over the Nets and Knicks, and they’re not in much danger of missing out on a playoff spot, although they get fed some poison anyway in the opening round, whether it’s going to be against Cleveland, Boston or Orlando. The Sixers have covered four of five, and the dog has beaten the number in six of the last seven meetings, but Chicago is a hot home team right now, and Philly is just 16-22 SU on the road, allowing 47% shooting as the visitor.

THE PLAY: CHICAGO **

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PRO BASKETBALL — April 9

DENVER (+9) at L.A. LAKERS (Total 210.5)
– Denver has had the hot hand, for sure, shooting 53% or better in six of its last seven games. the Nuggets have won eight games in a row, have a 2.5-game lead in the Northwest Division and the second best record in the Western Conference, and if they hold serve they could well meet up with the Lakers in the conference finals. Up until the last meeting, the Lakers had won nine games in a row in the series, but Denver hung a 90-79 loss on them in February, in a game in which the Lakers hit less than 30% of their shots. This is revenge, in a sense, because that was a painful memory; one of the worst shooting nights in the history of this franchise since it moved west from Minnesota. In three of the last six games, though, Los Angeles has shot under 40%, and that is not going to result in a lot of games where you’re pulling away from people. Kobe Bryant has gotten to his season average just three times in the last dozen games. Chauncey Billups has been especially sure-handed for the Nuggets, with a 4.7-to-1 assist-turnover ratio in his last six games. The Lakers may get some measure of revenge, but judging from Denver’s recent form, it won;t be easy.

THE PLAY: DENVER **

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PRO BASKETBALL — April 9

HOUSTON (-9) at SACRAMENTO (Total 205)
– Sacramento has been positively non-defensive over the last five games, allowing 122 points per contest. That’s not particularly difficult to explain, since this is the worst team in the NBA when it comes to field goal percentage defense (48.6% allowed). With Kevin Martin nursing a badly injured ankle (he may play anyway, but is a liability on defense), this team is going to have to find some production in the paint, which is harder when you have a guy like Yao Ming down low, swatting away shots and discouraging advances down the lane. The Kings have covered the last six meetings between these teams, but they’re just 8-16 ATS as a home underdog. Obviously the intensity edge has to go to the Rockets, who are in a flat-footed tie with San Antonio atop the Southwest Division. It’s not a “slam dunk” laying considerable points on the road, but with Sacramento, any and all horrible home efforts are possible.

THE PLAY: HOUSTON *

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All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars
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PRO BASKETBALL — April 2

UTAH (+5) at DENVER (Total 209)
– Utah had plenty of defensive lapses against Portland last time out, giving up 62% shooting to the Blazers. Thyat’s not the kind of situation they want to be in as they go up against Denver, which has shot 55% or better in each of its last three games, and has won four games in a row. No wonder, when you consider that Carmelo Anthonmy has really had a hot hand of late (29 points or more in each of last five games) and Chauncey Billups is controlling the ball, racking up a 4-to-1 ratio of assists to turnovers in his last four games. Utah is 0-10 SU on the road against the other playoff teams in the Western Conference, and this could be a preview of a first-round playoff series.

THE PLAY: DENVER ***