In today’s newsletter…
1. Leading Off: Arizona’s perfect start to the season
2. Game of the Day: Jokic is back for his third game since monthlong injury absence
3. Scouting Report: Another Duke freshman is leading the way
4. By the Numbers: Despite surge, Knicks are still worst team in NBA on road ATS
5. Overtime: Ranking every projected Super Bowl LX starter
1. Leading Off
Arizona is off to a school-record 22-0 start but has a gauntlet coming up to close out its regular season Big 12 schedule. After hosting an Oklahoma State squad on Saturday that is 15-6 with a win over SEC-leading Texas A&M, Arizona faces six ranked opponents in seven games — including a home-and-home against No. 11 Kansas.
Whether or not the Wildcats finish the regular season with a perfect record after one of the toughest closing stretches of any school, they look primed for an NCAA Tournament run. Arizona has five players averaging 10 points or more and two grabbing over eight rebounds per game. Tommy Lloyd’s squad is 13th in points per game (89.5), seventh in rebounds (43.4), and allow an average of under 69 points. They’re the current favorites to win the title, just ahead of No. 2 Michigan and No. 4 Duke.
“A lot of people talk about momentum, momentum, momentum. I understand what momentum is, but I think there’s way more value in being steady and consistent,” Lloyd said. His team is currently all of those things and would break a school record dating back to 1917 for overall consecutive wins with a victory over Oklahoma State.
— Abe Rakov
Sportmoney's Super Bowl LX Betting Guide
Our most comprehensive guide ever with bets, props, trends and more from a two-time NFL Circa contest winner ($276k in prizes)
2. Game of the Day
Three of NBA’s Top 17 Scorers Face Off as Nuggets Visit Pistons
Nikola Jokic | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Nikola Jokic is back in the lineup for the Nuggets after missing a month with a knee injury, but he has a minutes restriction. He scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his first game, a win against the Clippers, but was held to just 16 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in 29 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Oklahoma City. Denver went 9-6 without Jokic, including a 109-107 home loss to Detroit last week. Jokic’s teammate Jamal Murray learned on Sunday that he made his first All Star team after averaging 25.5 points, 7.5 assists and 4.4 rebounds so far this season.
The Pistons have won 11 of 14 are are still 5.5 ahead of the Knicks in the East despite New York’s six game winning streak. Guard Cade Cunningham has dished out double-digit assists in four of five and scored over his season average in three of those. Cunningham netted 22 points in the road win over Denver. Forward Tobias Harris matched his teammate’s 22 (on 10-15 from the field) and added eight rebounds. No one on either team had more than 24 points in that contest, but six players on each squad scored in double-digits.
Nuggets (33-17, 19-7 Away) vs. Pistons (36-12, 19-5 Home)
7pm
The Odds
Spread: DEN (+4, -110), DET (-4, -110)
55% of the money and 59% of the bets are with DEN
ATS | DEN (road): 17-9, DET (home): 13-11
Moneyline: DEN +150, DET -178
Total (228.5): Over -106, Under -114
DEN: 31-19, DET: 20-28
Head-to-Head
DEN | DET | |
|---|---|---|
Streak | L1 | W2 |
Last 10 | 6-4 | 8-2 |
Points/Game | 119.9 | 117.3 |
Opp Points/Game | 115.7 | 109.7 |
Rebounds/Game | 42.4 | 45.8 |
Opp Rebounds/Game | 43.1 | 41.5 |
Assists/Game | 28.0 | 26.8 |
Players to Watch
DEN C Nikola Jokic | Points: 23.5 (29.3 - 16, 31 … 21, 34, 56), Reb: 10.5 (12.0 - 7, 12 … 5, 21, 16), Ast: 8.5 (10.7 - 8, 5 … 8, 12, 15)
DEN G Jamal Murray | Points: 22.5 (25.5 - 12, 20, 27, 24, 24), Reb: 2.5 (4.4 - 5, 4, 4, 5, 4), Ast: 6.5 (7.5 - 12, 9, 6, 10, 5)
DET G Cade Cunningham | Points: 24.5 (25.2 - 18, 29, 26, 22, 29), Reb: 4.5 (5.6 - 4, 4, 3, 3, 5), Ast: 10.5 (9.8 - 12, 11, 7, 11, 11)
DET C Jalen Duren | Points: 17.5 (18.0 - 21, 21, 23, 14, 18), Reb: 10.5 (10.7 - 10, 13, 13, 8, 6)
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - Last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
3. Scouting Report
Boozer Keeps Increasing Points Average for Duke, Kucherov Has Massive Streak for Bolts
Cameron Boozer | Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
Duke F Cameron Boozer (vs. Boston College)
The Duke freshman is the second-leading scorer in college basketball with 23.5 points per game and is 19th in rebounds at just under 10. Boozer has averaged 26.3 over his past four matchups and shot over 50 percent from the floor in 12 straight. Boston College’s defense is its strength, as the Eagles haven’t given up 80+ points in any non-overtime game this year, but the team allows more rebounds than just about anyone (340th in college basketball).
Points: 23.5 (23.5 - 24, 19, 32, 30, 21), Reb: 10.5 (9.8 - 8, 10, 9, 14, 13), Ast: TBA (4.1 - 5, 4, 4, 4, 3)
BC - L2 (4-6 L10) | Points Allowed: 68.4 (52nd), Reb Allowed: 38.2 (340th), Ast Allowed: 11.4 (42nd)
Knicks F OG Anunoby (at Wizards)
Anunoby averaged over three points more per game in January than December (17.7 to 14.5) and has scored 20+ in four of five. He’s coming off a 25-point performance in a win over the Lakers on Sunday where he shot 4-8 from three for the second game in a row. Anunoby scored 16 when these teams played early in the season, but was still 7-13 from the floor. The Wizards have won three of four but gave up 142 points to the Lakers in the loss. They’ve stayed under their season average in points allowed in seven of eight.
Points: 16.5 (16.4 - 25, 24, 26, 15, 23), Reb: 4.5 (5.5 - 8, 6, 3, 2, 7)
WAS - W1 (3-7 L10) | Points Allowed: 122.5 (29th), Reb Allowed: 47.5 (30th), Ast Allowed: 28.5 (28th)
Lightning RW Nikita Kucherov (vs. Sabres)
The 32-year-old Russian has been held without a point just once since December 16th, a span of 19 games. He’s notched multiple points in four straight, averaging three per contest during the stretch. Kucherov is up to third in the NHL with 86 points and is second with 58 assists. Buffalo is slightly better than average on defense but allows a lot of shots, meaning Kucherov should have ample opportunities to get on the scoresheet on his own or through an assist.
Anytime Goal: +110 (0.6 - 1, 1, 0, 1, 1), Shots (4+): +146 (2.97 - 8, 2, 5, 3, 1), Points: TBA (1.8 - 4, 2, 2, 4, 1)
BUF - L1 (7-2-1) | Goals Allowed: 3.04 (14th), Shots Allowed: 29.7 (25th), Save Percentage: .906 (6th)
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - Last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
4. By the Numbers
Bettors Backing Home Underdog Mavs, Ole Miss is 5-1 ATS at Home
Cooper Flagg | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
NBA
Knicks (31-18, 10-12 Away) vs. Wizards (13-35, 9-16 Home)
NYK (-14, -106), WAS (+14, -114): 56% of the money and 53% of the bets are with NYK
ATS | NYK (road): 7-15, WAS (home): 12-13
Total (227.5) | NYK: 24-26 (117.6 ppg), WAS: 24-24 (112.3 ppg)
Lakers (29-19, 17-11 Away) vs. Nets (13-35, 6-17 Home)
LAL (-8.5, -110), BKN (+8.5, -110): 73% of the money and 78% of the bets are with LAL
ATS | LAL (road): 15-13, BKN (home): 12-11
Total (222.5) | LAL: 27-21 (116.1 ppg), BKN: 19-29 (107.1 ppg)
Hawks (24-27, 15-13 Away) vs. Heat (27-24, 16-9 Home)
ATL (+4.5, -112), MIA (-4.5, -108): 57% of the money and bets are with MIA
ATS | ATL (road): 16-12, MIA (home): 14-11
Total (239.5) | ATL: 26-25 (117.2 ppg), MIA: 26-25 (120.0 ppg)
Celtics (31-18, 15-10 Away) vs. Mavericks (19-30, 14-14 Home)
BOS (-8, -108), DAL (+8, -112): 54% of the money and 52% of the bets are with DAL
ATS | BOS (road): 15-10, DAL (home): 16-12
Total (222.5) | BOS: 19-30 (116.1 ppg), DAL: 21-28 (114.1 ppg)
Magic (25-23, 10-13 Away) vs. Thunder (39-11, 21-4 Home)
ORL (+7.5, -110), OKC (-7.5, -110): 80% of the money and 81% of the bets are with OKC
ATS | ORL (road): 8-15, OKC (home): 12-13
Total (218.5) | ORL: 24-24 (115.5 ppg), OKC: 25-25 (120.3 ppg)
Suns (30-20, 13-13 Away) vs. Trail Blazers (23-27, 13-12 Home)
PHX (-4.5, -106), POR (+4.5, -114): 64% of the money and 63% of the bets are with PHX
ATS | PHX (road): 16-10, POR (home): 15-10
Total (218.5) | PHX: 21-29 (113.8 ppg), POR: 24-26 (115.1 ppg)
MCBB
Ole Miss (11-10, 3-5 SEC) vs. No. 25 Tennessee (15-6, 5-3 SEC)
MISS (+11.5, -105), TEN (-11.5, -115): 77% of the money and 68% of the bets are with TEN
ATS | MISS (road): 5-1, TEN (home): 5-7
Total (138.5) | MISS: 11-10 (74.5 ppg), TEN: 13-8 (82.1 ppg)
South Carolina (11-11, 2-7 SEC) vs. Texas (13-9, 4-5 SEC)
SC (+11.5, -102), TEX (-11.5, -120): 81% of the money and 53% of the bets are with TEX
ATS | SC (road): 3-2, TEX (home): 7-5
Total (149.5) | SC: 13-9 (77.4 ppg), TEX: 12-9 (85.5 ppg)
NC State (16-6, 7-2 ACC) vs. SMU (15-6, 4-4 ACC)
NCST (-2.5, -102), SMU (+2.5, -120): 63% of the money is with NCST but 54% of the bets are with SMU
ATS | NCST (road): 4-2, SMU (home): 5-8
Total (160.5) | NCST: 13-9 (85.9 ppg), SMU: 12-9 (86.6 ppg)
Indiana (15-7, 6-5 Big Ten) vs. USC (16-6, 5-6 Big Ten)
IND (+1.5, -122), USC (+1.5, +100): 58% of the money is with USC but 59% of the bets are with IND
ATS | IND (road): 4-3, USC (home): 5-5
Total (151.5) | IND: 10-12 (81.5 ppg), USC: 11-10 (81.5 ppg)
5. Overtime
In the News
CBS Sports ranked every projected Super Bowl LX starter from Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 1 to his teammate, guard Anthony Bradford at 44th. New England quarterback Drake Maye (2nd) beat out fellow signal caller Sam Darnold (10th), while Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon was the highest-ranked defensive player (3rd).
After two consecutive 4-13 campaigns and on their third coach in three seasons, the Patriots didn’t have high expectations in Year 1 of the Mike Vrabel era. New England hadn’t earned fewer wins across two seasons since the 1992-1993 campaigns. Yahoo Sports’s Frank Schwab has a feature out about how the front office and Vrabel transformed the Patriots into a Super Bowl team so quickly using $120 million in cap space ($30 million more than any other team).
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo might actually be traded, as Milwaukee has started giving counter offers to trade proposals, according to ESPN. The Heat, Timberwolves Warriors and Knicks have been “among the most active suitors for a deal” ahead of Thursday’s 3pm deadline, according to the World Wide Leader.
Nebraska fell four spots to ninth in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll after its first two losses of the season, both to top-10 teams (at Michigan and vs. Illinois). No. 21 Arkansas had the biggest drop of the week with a six-place fall after losing to Kentucky. Illinois climbed four to fifth, while No. 11 Kansas is just one spot away from being back in the top-10 after a three-spot increase after beating No. 16 BYU.
ESPN’s Arda Ocal dug into how NHL players who didn’t make their Olympic team must feel as the league closes in on its 19-day break for the Games. “Since Canada announced its roster, Mark Scheifele is fourth in points among Canadians with 37 … Evan Bouchard is tops among Canadian defensemen in points (22, fourth overall) and goals (eight, 9th overall). Zach Hyman leads with 11 goals.” The whole story is worth a read.
What to Watch (times ET)
3pm: Arsenal vs. Chelsea (English Carabao Cup) on Paramount+
7pm: Ole Miss vs. No. 25 Tennessee (MCBB) on ESPN2
7:30pm: Penguins vs. Islanders on TNT
8pm: Celtics vs. Mavericks on NBC
9pm: NC State vs. SMU (MCBB) on ESPN2
10pm: Kraken vs. Ducks on TNT (or Indiana vs. USC (MCBB) on Peacock)
11pm: Suns vs. Trail Blazers on NBC
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