Last meeting between these two Utah was a -2 favorite but failed to cover or win at home. They're 0-2 on the year against the Thunder and are typically the kind of playoff team that can beat many teams but cannot get past teams ranked better then them. Utah will need to score in this one to stand a chance. They are 18-3 when they score atleast 115 ppg. I like this one to be tight after the all star break and Utah to cause turnovers to stay in it.
My Pick: Utah +4.5
Gary Harris returns for the Nuggets tonight. Vegas has Denver as a -4.5 favorite on the road at Dallas. 59% of the community likes Denver -4.5.
— SportsJaw (@SportsJaw) February 22, 2019
Check out Friday's NBA slate: https://t.co/WvN3IVh4pk pic.twitter.com/cbKa17r9Ku
Welcome to Loud City: Rolling Thunder Review Podcast: Previewing Kings vs Thunder with Sactown Royalty
With the all-Star break over, Welcome to Loud City is excited to introduce the first episode of our new podcast series, the Rolling Thunder Review!
Ben Mertens of WTLC will bring on guests to give you concise in-depth previews of OKC's upcoming games, getting insight directly with the people who know those teams the best.
For our first episode, Richard Ivanowski of Sactown Royalty joins us to talk about the Sacramento Kings, the reasons behind the Kings surprisingly successful season, preview Saturday's game between OKC and Sacramento, and reveal which team he'd least like the Kings to face in the playoffs.
Get your Clippers -2, Memphis will be missing Valanciuna and Kyle Anderson and Jaren Jackson is questionable for today's game against the Clippers due to still having right quad soreness. On the road or not, I like the better team that's not missing 2 (maybe 3) starters here tonight at a virtual pick em'.
My Pick: Los Angeles -2
Can bettors squeeze any more juice from the turnip that is Denver on the road? The Nuggets have been an atrocious road team this season, with a 10-18 ATS record away from home. However, it has been even worse of late for the second-best team in the Western Conference, with a 1-7 slide against the line in its last eight games. Extend that out to the last 16 games away from Denver, and that record is 3-13 against the number. Bottom line: Denver is untouchable as a road team, especially since its power rating is so high the team is usually laying points. In fact, the Nuggets have been a road favorite 15 times this season, and are 5-10 against the spread in that situation. Denver figures to be in that role once more against the Mavericks, one of the best home teams in the NBA. Dallas is an astounding 20-9 both straight up and against the number at home this season. Even better, the team has been a home underdog 12 times this season and covered 10 of those contests! In a situation with a fading road team and a strong home team bettors should put their faith in the team that has delivered time and time again.
My Pick: Dallas +3.5
Different team, same theme. Yes, the storyline here is DeMar DeRozans return to Toronto, but the emerging trend hounding San Antonio has been a moneymaker for bettors. Since Jan. 23, the Spurs rank 29th in defensive efficiency, allowing 119.3 points per 100 possessions. They are dead-last in opponent field goal percentage, and 27th in opponent three-point percentage. However, theyve balanced this stretch of atrocious defense with a somewhat effective offense that ranks 7th in offensive efficiency over this 11-game span. All of this has added up to a 10-1 run to the Over in San Antonio games. On top of that, the Spurs are 3-8 against the line over that stretch with failed covers in eight straight. Things arent going well for the Spurs to say the least. Now, bettors are to expect this porous defense to contain the 8th-best offensive team since the new year began? Toronto was in a similar spot before the break, hosting a Wizards team that played zero defense on a run of Overs. The teams combined for 149 points in that one, and more of the same should be expected tonight.
My Pick: Over 227.5
The Pelicans say that Davis will be on the floor for this one, which is going to be a plus for the team. Indiana was playing well before fading late against the Bucks but they still have terrific depth. The Pacers still get the nod in this one as they are playing well, have the much better defense and playing at home.
My Pick: Indiana -5.5
I like the Thunder at home here. PG13 has been playing out of his mind and theres something about George going against the Jazz. He has been the leading scorer the last two times these teams have played one another. It was a 43-point performance in their most recent game in December and a 31-point performance prior to that game. So hell definitely be the player to watch in the rubber match on Friday. There is no answer for Westbrook, and hell likely take a step back from scoring, while dominating more on the boards and as a facilitator this time around. These are the games when Mitchell hasnt shown the consistency of a legitimate superstar. When faced with elite opposition, he sometimes disappears entirely or turns in a mediocre performance, particularly when the Jazz are playing on the road. Each loss hurts for the Jazz as they try to stay afloat in the playoff picture with the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers.
My Pick: Oklahoma City -3.5
Demar returns to Toronto. It should be a good story line but I dont see it playing out well for the Spurs. For one theyre on the road where they have struggled. San Antonio managed to come up with the win over the Grizzlies but it wasnt easy by any stretch of the imagination. The Spurs now have to face a Raptors team that has won six in a row and who is 24-5 at home this season. Toronto got a massive game from Siakam in the win over the Wizards and he has really developed into a go-to guy on the offensive end. The Raptors are the deeper team and that gives them the upper hand in this contest.
My Pick: Toronto -7.5
This is a tough one because Denver has proven to be a different team on the road away fromm mile high. But Dallas stumbled into the All-Star break and theyre facing one of the elite teams in the league here. Denver got a shot in the arm with the return of Thomas, who made his debut against the Kings. Getting Millsap back was a boost and the team hopes to have Harris back for this one as well. The Nuggets have a deep rotation and they are capable of hanging with any team in the league. I like the nuggets to win this one close and some free throws to cover the spread
My Pick: Denver -3.5
SLC Dunk: Utah Jazz's Dante Exum out for game against Oklahoma City Thunder
For those on Exum Island eagerly awaiting return of its namesake, they'll have to wait at least a game longer. Dante Exum will be held out of tomorrow's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder according to Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Dante Exum did not practice today, as he's getting his re-evaluation done at the same time.
-- Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) February 21, 2019
Regarding future Exum re-evaluation dates, Jazz PR says "The medical staff is still reviewing the results of today's re-evaluation, we should have more information tomorrow.
Deseret News: Dante Exum will remain out for Utah Jazz against Oklahoma City Thunder
SALT LAKE CITY -- Earlier this week, Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum posted a photo on Instagram of himself at a beach as the NBA's All-Star break was nearing conclusion. Exum finished the caption on the photo with #backsoon.
Did that hashtag mean the Aussie guard would be ready to play Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road after missing more than a month because of a sprained left ankle?
As it's turned out, the answer to that question is "no."
The Jazz announced on Thursday that Exum will not play in the game after he was reevaluated in the afternoon.
Bleacher Report: Watch Allen Iverson Pay Tribute to Dwyane Wade During Heat vs. 76ers
Allen Iverson is the best player to ever wear No. 3 for the Philadelphia 76ers, and he paid homage to the best player to wear No. 3 for the Miami Heat.
Dwyane Wade's "One Last Dance"--a nickname he has given his final NBA season--stopped in Philadelphia on Thursday night as the Heat were in town to play the Sixers. In correlation with the game, House of Highlights uploaded a YouTube video in which A.I. showers Wade with compliments:
The tribute comes just four days after Iverson sat courtside at the 2019 NBA All-Star Game and watched Wade turn back the clock with a lob to former Heat teammate LeBron James.
Blazer's Edge: Gameday Thread: Blazers at Nets
The Blazers visit some old friends today, at 4:30 pm PST on NBC Sports Northwest.
Bright Side Of The Sun: Open Thread: Phoenix Suns (11-48) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-46)
Probable starters:
Bright Side readers, let's chat throughout the game in the comments section below. Will the Suns avoid entering the record books for their longest losing streak in franchise history?
Back from break and I'm ready for some NBA. I'm going to get things started with some bucks action. I really like the bucks and think they have a legit shot of winning the east. I like them tonight -5.5 at home tonight.
My Pick: Milwaukee -5.5
Man I've missed the NBA last few days! Excited to see LBJ turn it up a notch . I'm betting the UNDER. LAL is the 2nd most profitable home team on the Under this year and 233 a big number coming off the break where some guys are likely going to need a quarter or two to get back into the swing of things.
My Pick: Under 233
Fansided: Miami Heat: Preview vs. 76ers, led by Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler
With the Miami Heat being tied for the 8th seed on the cusp of making the playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers are tied with the Boston Celtics as the 4th seed, hoping to get their home court advantage.
The Heat will play the Sixers 3 times by seasons end, Miami is currently 0-1, looking to tie their season series up at one game apiece, losing the first outing 114-124. In that 10 point loss, the Heat found themselves at the mercy of Joel Embiid, who dismantled Hassan Whiteside and led the Sixers with 35 points and 18 rebounds.
San Jose Mercury News: Live updates: Warriors vs. Kings, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Join us for live news and analysis Thursday at 7:30 p.m. as the Warriors get the second half of the season started by hosting the rival Kings at Oracle.
Old faces in new places will greet both the Warriors (41-16) and the Kings (30-27) as new Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins faces Sacramento for the first time since joining Golden State, and newly acquired Harrison Barnes makes his Oracle debut as a King.
Cousins, who was traded from Sacramento to New Orleans two years ago on Wednesday, has no doubt circled the calendar for Thursday's game. He's also looking to ramp up his minutes played during the final 25 games of the regular season.
Fansided: Brooklyn Nets vs. Portland Trail Blazers: TV info, live stream, injury report
The Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers renew acquaintances for the first time in more than a year when they meet Thursday night at Barclays Center.
Both teams are deep in the playoff hunt. The Nets (30-29) come out of the All-Star break in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, two games ahead of the seventh-place Charlotte Hornets and 2 1/2 games clear of the eighth-place Detroit Pistons.
The Miami Heat are tied with Detroit, but currently don't own the tiebreaker, and are ninth, with the Orlando Magic looming a half-game out of the eighth spot. The Washington Wizards are three games out of eighth.
Sign in or signup to Sports Jaw to join the conversation.
To use SportsJaw, you must have cookies enabled.
If you sign up using Twitter, Facebook, or Google, we’ll start you off with a network by automatically importing any followers/followees or friends already on SportsJaw. Also, we’ll never post to Twitter, Facebook, or Google without your permission. For more information, please see our Login FAQ.
Thank you for completing your account.
We hope you enjoy the community and all it has to offer. New features are being added all of the time.
NFL
College Football
NBA
College Basketball
MLB
NHL
