Heat Still Team to Beat in NBA
Pat Lovell-US PRESSWIRE
The Miami Heat is still the team to beat for the NBA World Championship in 2014. Just ask the Oklahoma City Thunder after their 21 point thumping at home to the two time defending champions on Thursday night. That was not only a message sent to the Thunder but also the Indiana Pacers that you may get the home court advantage in the playoffs, but that does not mean you will win the series. The Heat can not win on their court but they can win on yours too. And they don’t need a call or a lucky shot to do it either. They can shut you down even though you have the league’s most prolific scorer. They can whip you even when their best player, and the best player in the league has a broken nose.
Lebron James led all scorers with 33 points despite getting his nose broken driving to the hoop with about 6:00 left. Durant was held to 1-6 on three pointers and finished with 28 points. Russell Westbrook finished with 16 points for the Thunder.
The Orlando Magic won another home game beating the New York Knicks in two overtimes 129-121 on Friday night. Victor Oladipo led the Magic with 30 points and 14 assists as the Magic improved to 17-40 while the Knicks dropped to 21-34, further damaging their fading playoff hopes. Orlando has won six of their last seven home games, many while wearing their road uniforms. Maybe they are trying to convince their young players they can win in those uniforms after all.
The Atlanta Hawks lost a disappointing one to the Detroit Pistons on Friday 115-107. The Hawks are playing themselves right out of the playoffs with eight straight losses now. They have fallen all the way to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference only 2.5 games up on the ninth place Pistons. They were in contention for a home playoff series eight games ago and are now looking at going to either Indiana or Miami in round one.
The Washington Wizards are now in second place in the Southeast Division, a game ahead of the Hawks and Charlotte Bobcats. Washington’s last game was a 114-97 whipping of the Hawks. The win stopped an 11 game road losing streak against the Hawks. John Wall had 21 points and Brad Beal added 19 in the win.
Tonight in the Southeast Division, Bookmaker has the odds:
Memphis at Charlotte- The Bobcats are +2 -110 and the Grizzlies are -2 -110 ATS. Moneyline is Memphis -135 and Charlotte +115. We are going to take the Bobcats +2 -110 in this one. The Grizzlies are coming off a big win last night against the L. A. Clippers. Tonight is a good night for a letdown.
New Orleans at Washington– The Pelicans are +6 -110 and the Wizards are -6 -110 ATS. Moneyline is New Orleans +210 and Washington -250. Washington is well rested not having played since Wednesday. We will take the Wizards -6 -110.
New York at Atlanta– The Knicks are +2.5 -110 and the Hawks are -2.5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is Atlanta -145 and the Knicks +125. We are going to go with the Knicks +2.5 -110. The Hawks will have to prove they can win one before we give points to take them.
