[Hobart]

NBA

1-26-07



Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors (7 PM ET)
The Toronto Raptors overcame a 15-point deficit in Wednesday's 90-88 victory over the New Orleans Hornets and did it without T.J. Ford and Andrea Bargnani. Ford was out with a sprained ankle and Bargnani with flu-like symptoms - both are considered day-to-day. Toronto has won both matchups against Boston this season, including a 95-86 victory last Friday, but the Raptors had dropped nine of the previous 11 meetings in the series. SLIGHT EDGE: RAPTORS
The slumping Celtics have dropped nine straight games overall, their longest skid since losing 10 in a row in April 2000. EDGE: RAPTORS

The UNDER is 8-0-1 in the Raptors' last nine games overall.





Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers (7 PM ET)
Cleveland star LeBron James is averaging 30.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 2.3 steals while shooting 50 percent from the field in his career against Philadelphia, but Cleveland is just 5-7 in those contests. SLIGHT EDGE: CAVS
These teams have split their first two matchups this season - both in Cleveland - but the Cavs have lost 14 of their last 17 visits to Philadelphia. BIG EDGE: 76ERS

The OVER is 7-0 in the last seven meetings.





Miami Heat at New York Knicks (7:30 PM ET)
Miami easily defeated New York 101-83 on Monday after jumping out to a 29-3 lead, including 27 consecutive points in the first quarter. The Heat were without All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal, who return for this contest. BIG EDGE: HEAT
The Heat are just 9-13 on the road, but they have won five straight at Madison Square Garden and eight of their last nine overall against the Knicks. EDGE: HEAT

The UNDER is 12-4 in the last 16 meetings.





Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons (ESPN | 8 PM ET)
The Detroit Pistons are 10-3 this season when scoring 100 or more points and are going against a team that allows a league-high 106.4 points per game. EDGE: PISTONS
Detroit has won both meetings against Washington this season after going 0-3 versus the Wizards in last season's series. SLIGHT EDGE: PISTONS

Detroit is 1-7 ATS in its last eight home games.





Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Hornets (8 PM ET)
The Kings have won three of their last four games overall, but they have dropped five of their last six away from home and are 5-12 on the road this season. EDGE: HORNETS
New Orleans averages a league-low 90.6 points per game. EDGE: UNDER
New Orleans and Sacramento split four meetings in 2005-06, with the home team winning each game. EDGE: HORNETS

Sacramento is 1-11 ATS in its last 12 games playing on one day of rest.





Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs (8 PM ET)
San Antonio went 34-7 at the AT&T Center on its way to the best record in the Western Conference in 2005-06, but the Spurs fell to 15-8 there this season with a 90-85 loss to Houston on Wednesday. The Spurs fell to 5-5 in its last 10 contests at home. SLIGHT EDGE: GRIZZLIES
Memphis has the NBA's worst record at 11-32 and has managed just three wins on the road after picking up a 132-130 road victory at Utah on Wednesday night. EDGE: SPURS
The Grizzlies are the only team in the NBA without a victory within its division this season, going 0-8 against Southwest clubs. EDGE: SPURS

The UNDER is 9-2 in the Spurs' last 11 games playing on one days rest.





Phoenix Suns at Milwaukee Bucks (8:30 PM ET)
Phoenix is the first team to have two win streaks of at least 15 games in the same season since the Los Angeles Lakers had runs of 19 and 16 in a row during the 1999-00 season. EDGE: SUNS
The Bucks are still without injured starters Michael Redd, Charlie Villanueva and Mo Williams. They are 1-8 without Redd, who is the league's sixth-leading scorer. BIG EDGE: SUNS
Phoenix has won 26 of the last 30 meetings overall but has lost two of its last three visits to Milwaukee. EDGE: SUNS

The underdog is 8-1-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.



Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets (8:30 PM ET)
No Western Conference team has played fewer home games than the Rockets, who are 13-5 at the Toyota Center and start a five-game homestand against teams with losing records. BIG EDGE: ROCKETS
Portland has won two straight in the series after losing the previous nine meetings. Houston, though, is 5-0 at home against the Blazers since April 2003. SLIGHT EDGE: ROCKETS
Houston is 9-0 this season when shooting 50 percent or better, and the Trail Blazers are allowing opponents to shoot 47.4 percent from the floor this season. EDGE: ROCKETS

Portland is 4-0 ATS in their last four games as an underdog.





Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz (9 PM ET)
The Nuggets are 2-0 with Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony in the lineup, with the two combining to average 53 points per game. EDGE: NUGGETS
The Jazz have dropped three of their last four home games after opening the season 14-2 at EnergySolutions Arena. Despite the recent struggles at home, the Jazz have won their last four games against Denver overall and 29 of the last 33 matchups between the teams at Utah. BIG EDGE: JAZZ

Utah is 1-8 ATS in its last nine games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5 points.





Minnesota Timberwolves at Seattle SuperSonics (10:30 PM ET)
Not much has changed for Minnesota with new head coach Randy Wittman. The Timberwolves lost 101-98 at Portland on Wednesday night to extend their losing streak to five games. EDGE: SONICS
The Timberwolves, who are 8-13 on the road, are in the fourth game of a five-game road swing that concludes Saturday against Los Angeles. EDGE: SONICS
Seattle has won three straight over Minnesota at the KeyArena, and the Sonics are 10-4 at home since December 1st after losing six of their first eight games at home. BIG EDGE: SONICS

The OVER is 17-4-1 in the Timberwolves' last 22 overall games.



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NBA Injuries - 1-26-07




Atlanta - Guard Speedy Claxton (1/18, sore left knee) is expected to miss two weeks.

Boston - *Forward Al Jefferson (1/25, sprained right ankle) is probable for Friday's game against Toronto. *Forward Brian Scalabrine (1/25, sprained right MCL) is probable for Friday's game against Toronto. Guard Tony Allen (1/13, left knee surgery) will miss the remainder of the season. *Forward Wally Szczerbiak (1/25, swollen left ankle) is doubtful for Friday's game against Toronto. Guard Paul Pierce (1/10, stress reaction in left foot) is out indefinitely. Center Theo Ratliff (1/5, to undergo lower back surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

Charlotte - *Forward Melvin Ely (1/25, upper respiratory infection) is questionable for Friday's game against the LA Lakers. *Forward Othella Harrington (1/25, sore left knee) is questionable for Friday's game against the LA Lakers. *Center Jake Voskuhl (1/25, stomach virus) is questionable for Friday's game against the LA Lakers. Center Primoz Brezec (1/22, bulging disc in lower back) is expected to miss 7-10 days. Guard Brevin Knight (12/30, abdominal surgery) will miss at least four weeks.

Chicago - *Forward Mike Sweetney (1/25, bruised lower right leg) missed Thursday's game against Dallas. Center Martynas Andriuskevicius (1/6, concussion/minor skull fracture) will miss the remainder of the season.

Cleveland - *Guard LeBron James (1/25, sore right big toe) is probable for Friday's game against Philadelphia.

Dallas - No significant injuries.

Denver - Forward Eduardo Najera (1/24, bruised left quadriceps) is probable for Friday's game against Utah. Forward Kenyon Martin (11/15, right knee surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

Detroit - No significant injuries.

Golden State - Guard Jason Richardson (12/31, broken bone in right hand) is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Forward Zarko Cabarkapa (12/26, back surgery) is out indefinitely.

Houston - *Guard Kirk Snyder (1/25, respiratory infection) is doubtful for Friday's game against Portland. Center Yao Ming (12/24, fractured bone under right knee) is expected to miss at least six weeks. Guard Bob Sura (11/10, right knee/back) is out indefinitely.

Indiana - *Guard Keith McLeod (1/25, strained abdominal muscle) is expected to miss Saturday's game against Toronto. Forward David Harrison (1/17, sprained left shoulder) is out indefinitely.

Los Angeles - Center Zeljko Rebraca (11/3, pinched nerve in lower back) is out indefinitely.

Los Angeles - Center Kwame Brown (1/24, sprained left ankle) is expected to miss at least another 7-10 days. Forward Lamar Odom (1/24, sprained MCL in right knee) is probable for Friday's game against Charlotte. Center Chris Mihm (11/14, right ankle surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

Memphis - *Guard Damon Stoudamire (1/25, back spasms) is questionable for Friday's game against San Antonio. *Forward Stromile Swift (1/25, back spasms) is out indefinitely. Guard Kyle Lowry (11/22, broken left wrist) is out indefinitely.

Miami - Forward Wayne Simien (11/30, salmonella infection) is out indefinitely.

Milwaukee - *Guard Maurice Williams (1/25, sprained left shoulder) is expected to miss another 1-2 weeks. *Guard Michael Redd (1/25, strained patellar tendon in left knee) is expected to miss another 2-3 weeks. Forward Charlie Villanueva (1/16, right shoulder tendinitis) is expected to miss at least another 1-2 weeks. Forward Bobby Simmons (1/13, right foot surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

Minnesota - Guard Rashad McCants (1/11, right knee surgery) is out indefinitely.

New Jersey - Forward Richard Jefferson (1/22, right ankle surgery) is out indefinitely. Center Nenad Krstic (12/23, left knee surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

New Orleans/Okla City - Guard Chris Paul (1/22, sprained right ankle) is expected to miss at least another 1-2 weeks. Guard Peja Stojakovic (12/18, lower back surgery) is expected to miss at least two months.

New York - *Center Eddy Curry (1/25, strained left calf) is doubtful for Friday's game against Miami. *Guard Stephon Marbury (1/25, sore left knee) is questionable for Friday's game against Miami. Guard Steve Francis (1/2, right knee tendinitis) is out indefinitely.

Orlando - Forward Trevor Ariza (1/12, sprained MCL in right knee) is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

Philadelphia - *Guard Willie Green (1/25, right knee inflammation) is doubtful for Friday's game against Cleveland. Forward Shavlik Randolph (12/1, left ankle surgery) is out indefinitely.

Phoenix - Forward Kurt Thomas (1/16, hyperextended left elbow) is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Portland - *Guard Brandon Roy (1/25, back spasms) is probable for Friday's game against Houston. *Forward Travis Outlaw (1/25, sprained right ankle) is expected to miss at least another week. Forward Darius Miles (11/14, right knee surgery) will miss the remainder of the season.

Sacramento - No significant injuries.

San Antonio - Forward Matt Bonner (1/15, torn MCL in left knee) is expected to miss 2-6 weeks.

Seattle - *Guard Earl Watson (1/25, bruised right shoulder) is questionable for Friday's game against Minnesota. Center Danny Fortson (1/24, sore left knee) is questionable for Friday's game against Minnesota. Forward Rashard Lewis (12/23, right hand surgery) is expected to miss two months. Center Robert Swift (10/27, torn ACL in right knee) will miss the entire season.

Toronto - *Forward Andrea Bargnani (1/25, flu) is questionable for Friday's game against Boston. *Guard T.J. Ford (1/25, sore right ankle) is questionable for Friday's game against Boston.

Utah - No significant injuries.

Washington - Forward Michael Ruffin (1/13, sprained right foot) is out indefinitely. *Forward Darius Songaila (1/25, back surgery) is expected to miss another 3-5 weeks.