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PRO BASKETBALL — January 31

INDIANA at TORONTO
(Raptors -9, Total 217.5) — [private] So far this has been a series that has been dominated by the home squad, which has covered six straight times. Indiana fell apart on the offensive end when facing the Cavaliers on Friday, being held to 34% shooting and precious few attempts at the free throw line (five in all). Clearly the Pacers can be slowed considerably when facing a capable defensive team. But the Raptors, who have yielded 46% field goals, don’t necessarily fit that category. As a result, when Toronto wins, it usually isn’t “walking away.” In fact, only one of their last eleven wins have been of the double-digit variety. Danny Granger has scored 59 points in two meetings so far against the Raptors.

THE PLAY: INDIANA +9 **

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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PRO BASKETBALL — January 31

PHOENIX at HOUSTON
(Rockets -3.5, Total 218) — You can safely say the last meetings was a barn burner between these teams, as they each blew 16-point leads, in a game Phoenix won 118-110. That was the fourth straight cover in the series for the Suns, who found their shooting touch again in Thursday’s 112-106 win over Dallas, where they hit 55%. One thing Phoenix has at its disposal that Houston doesn’t is the three-point shot – in profusion – as they have hit 12 per game over the last five. Note that Rick Adelman hasn’t managed to come up with a defensive strategy to slow this opponent in the first two meetings, as Phoenix has shot 53%.

THE PLAY: PHOENIX +3.5 ***

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)

PRO BASKETBALL — January 31

NEW YORK at MINNESOTA
(T-Wolves -2, Total 211) — [private] There’s major payback in the minds of these Wolves, after New York took out its own frustrations on them in a 132-105 stomping at the Garden on Tuesday. However, the Knicks are coming off a game last night in Washington, while Minnesota has rest after one of its better efforts of the year, a win over the L.A. Clippers behind 52% shooting. And New York will be without forward Al Harrington, who has been a great spark off the bench, scoring 26 points in that game against the Wolves, but who will sit this game out with a knee injury. Without him, the Knicks had limited options in the ten-point loss to the Wizards, as coach Mike D’Antoni had to turn to rookie Jordan Hill and comebacking Jonathan Bender, neither of whom is in the regular rotation. Minnesota has covered five straight games at the Target Center.

THE PLAY: MINNESOTA -2 ****

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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PRO BASKETBALL — January 31

ORLANDO at DETROIT
(Magic -5, Total 187) — [private] Coming off a sublime performance against Atlanta (18-point win on 54% shooting) on Saturday night, the Magic lays points here, and they catch the Pistons off their most pitiful offensive performance of the year, a 92-65 loss to the Heat. This is the “wounded animal” syndrome here, and the fans at the Palace will boo this team all the way back to downtown Detroit if they brick it again. This is now a four-game Detroit losing streak, but you want to be careful here, as Orlando has lost 15 of its last 16 games in Auburn Hills, and the Pistons have covered the last five meetings, including two encounters this season, where today’s home team was missing Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton.

THE PLAY: DETROIT +5 **

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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PRO BASKETBALL — January 30

CHARLOTTE at SACRAMENTO
(Bobcats -1, Total 198.5) — [private] Performances have been uneven for Kevin Martin, who exploded for 33 points against Utah last time out, but had made just one field goal in three consecutive games before that. The Kings are 1-7 since he’s been back. Charlotte is a team that has played better defense this year for Larry Brown, and we doubt Martin and Tyreke Evans will ramble for 58 combined points again as they did last night. The Bobcats, who have usually slowed the pace, have proven versatile enough to out-gun Golden State and Phoenix in successive road games. Here’s an interesting trend that skews in favor of the deep Bobcats – they are 8-1 ATS when playing the second end of a back-to-back on the road. That will count for something here, as Sacramento has been held below 100 points eight times in the last nine games.

THE PLAY: CHARLOTTE -1 ***

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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PRO BASKETBALL — January 30

PORTLAND at DALLAS
(Mavericks -8.5, Total 193) — [private] Dallas has the scheduling advantage here, and that comes by way of Portland having to play last night, in a tough four-point loss at Houston. That is certainly a daunting task for a team that is without star guard Brandon Roy and other contributors. However, there is a bigger cross to bear on the part of this Mavericks team, as they are just 1-15 ATS in their last 16 games at the American Airlines Center. You have to admire the way Portland has managed to hang in there (27-20 record) despite all the injuries.

THE PLAY: PORTLAND +8.5 ***

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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PRO BASKETBALL — January 30

NEW ORLEANS at MEMPHIS
(Grizzlies -7.5, Total 203.5) — [private] New Orleans has been a dominant team in this series, winning nine of the last ten meetings. But you have to admire the way Memphis has brought together a lot of individual talents to become a real team. So far, there is no trouble from Zach Randolph, who has bagged his first All-Star nod. This is a different Grizzlies team that the Hornets have used to playing, and Memphis, with an eleven-game winning streak at the FedEx Forum, are likely to be better at playing in the back end of back-to-backs here.

THE PLAY: MEMPHIS -7.5 **

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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