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In today’s newsletter…
1. Leading Off: Sportbooks think we’re in for 2 more close games in the NFL playoffs
2. Game of the Day: Leading scorers for Rockets and 76ers in mini-droughts
3. Scouting Report: Timberwolves’ Edwards is heating up + an Australian Open match to watch
4. By the Numbers: Jazz are tough out at home despite poor overall record
5. Overtime: Bills owner thew his wide receiver under the bus
1. Leading Off
This year’s Super Bowl participants will be determined on Sunday, and if the sportsbooks are right we’ll have a couple more close matchups in what has been a remarkably competitive NFL postseason. I highlighted the Patriots vs. Broncos spread yesterday. It tightened a point closer to New England -4.5 as of this morning. Bettors are backing the Patriots in a big way, though, as 79% of the money and 76% of the bets are currently with the road favorites.
On the NFC side, the Seahawks are favored by 2.5-points at home over the Rams. Bettors are even more confident about that one, with 82% of the money and 76% of the bets going to the Seahawks. The Rams won 21-19 at home in Week 11 and the Seahawks earned a 38-37 overtime victory in Seattle in Week 16. The matchup in Los Angeles was the last game Sam Darnold and Co. lost — the Seahawks are up to eight wins in a row. The Rams ended the regular season with two losses in their last three, but won both of their road playoff games by three points.
As a reminder, starting this week Sportspage is returning to Monday-Thursday coverage as the NFL season winds down. We’ll add Friday, Saturday and Sunday newsletters for major sports days until football is full time again in September and we go back to seven days a week. So we’ll be in your inbox this Sunday with more on those NFL conference championship matchups.
— Abe Rakov
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2. Game of the Day
Durant, Maxey Scoring is Down of Late as Houston Travels to Philadelphia
Kevin Durant | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Both teams come into tonight’s matchup 5-5 over their past 10 games, but the Rockets have won three in a row while the 76ers are losers of three of four. Houston is relying on its defense more than usual, giving up just 106, 110, and 105 during their winning streak. Kevin Durant has scored under 20 points in three of four, which hasn’t happened since March 2024.
Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey has also gone under his scoring average of late with 22 or fewer points in three of four matchups. The 76ers got back into contention by winning five of six games beginning with their last contest of 2025 but have lost five of seven since and are down to sixth in the East.
Rockets (26-15, 11-12 Away) vs. 76ers (23-19, 11-12 Home)
7pm
The Odds
Spread: HOU (-2, -110), PHI (+2, -110)
79% of the money and 68% of the bets are with HOU
ATS | HOU (road): 12-11, PHI (home): 10-13
Moneyline: HOU -134, PHI +114
Total (221.5): Over -110, Under -110
HOU: 19-22, PHI: 21-21
Head-to-Head
Rockets | 76ers | |
|---|---|---|
Streak | W3 | L1 |
Last 10 | 5-5 | 5-5 |
Points/Game | 117.0 | 116.5 |
Opp Points/Game | 110.5 | 115.4 |
Rebounds/Game | 49.0 | 44.1 |
Opp Rebounds/Game | 38.6 | 44.9 |
Assists/Game | 24.8 | 24.4 |
Players to Watch
HOU F Kevin Durant | Points: 23.5 (25.9 - 18, 18, 39, 19, 28), Reb: 5.5 (5.4 - 4, 6, 4, 7, 10), Ast: 4.5 (4.6 - 7, 8, 7, 3, 4)
HOU C Alperen Sengun | Points: 19.5 (21.5 - 20, 21, 25, 14, 23), Reb: 8.5 (9.3 - 13, 8, 14, 13, 7), Ast: 5.5 (6.4 - 9, 4, 3, 5, 11)
PHI G Tyrese Maxey | Points: 25.5 (30.0 - 20, 29, 22, 14, 33) Reb: 3.5 (4.4 - 2, 4, 5, 2, 4), Ast: 6.5 (6.7 - 7, 8, 9, 4, 2)
PHI C Joel Embiid (P) | Points: 25.5 (24.2 - 30, 33, 20, 27, 22), Reb: 7.5 (7.0 - 9, 5, 4, 8, 9), Ast: 3.5 (3.3 - 4, 3, 3, 4, 3)
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
3. Scouting Report
Edwards Scored 38 and 55 in Past 2 Games, Increased Scoring Average From December
Anthony Edwards | Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Timberwolves G Anthony Edwards (vs. Bulls)
Edwards has scored 38 and 55 in his past two games, with both being close, high-scoring losses for Minnesota. He chipped in just 23 when these teams played at the end of December, but that was more of a product of Edwards needing to play just 32 minutes in a 35-point win (he was 9 of 13 from the field). Edwards averages 32.5 points this month, up three from December, while keeping his rebound and assist totals slightly above his season average.
Points: 32.5 (29.9 - 38, 55, 23, 25, 25), Reb: 4.5 (5.0 - 8, 4, 2, 5, 7), Ast: 3.5 (3.7 - 3, 3, 3, 3, 9)
CHI - W2 (5-5 L10) | Points Allowed: 120.0 (26th), Reb Allowed: 45.0 (22nd), Ast Allowed: 27.7 (27th)
Heat C Bam Adebayo (at Trail Blazers)
Adebayo followed up a 1-13, four-point performance on Monday by going 8-15 and putting up 25 on Tuesday. He’s scored 22+ in four of five games after going 11 straight with 16 or fewer points. Adebayo also has 7, 12, and 12 rebounds in his past three games. The Trail Blazers have allowed under their season average in points in their past three contests, all wins.
Points: 16.5 (17.2 - 25, 4, 30, 22, 29), Reb: 9.5 (9.6 - 7, 12, 12, 4, 9), Ast: TBA (2.8 - 5, 3, 4, 5, 4)
POR - W3 (8-2 L10) | Points Allowed: 118.2 (22nd), Reb Allowed: 43.6 (14th), Ast Allowed: 26.8 (16th)
No. 19 Tommy Paul (vs. No. 14 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina)
Tommy Paul is a significant favorite over the better-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The American is 4-0 in his career against Davidovich Fokina, winning 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 when they played in the Round of 16 in last year’s Australian Open. Paul is 2-2 on the young season after falling in his first match before making it to the semifinals in an easy draw in his second warm-up tournament, the same pattern that Davidovich Fokina followed.
Paul -205, Davidovich Fokina +168
Head-to-Head: Paul 4-0 | 2025 Australian Open 6-1, 6-1, 6-1, 2023: U.S. Open 6-1, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4; Masters 1000 Miami 6-3, 7-5; Australian Open 6-2, 2-6, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
4. By the Numbers
Despite Poor Season, Jazz Are 10-12 at Home, 15-7 ATS, And 6th in NBA in PPG
Keyonte George | Rob Gray-Imagn Images
NBA
Nuggets (29-15, 17-7 Away) vs. Wizards (10-32, 6-14 Home)
DEN (-6, -108), WAS (+6, -112): 78% of the money and 77% of the bets are with DEN
ATS | DEN (road): 15-9, WAS (home): 9-11
Total (231.5) | DEN: 27-17 (121.4 ppg), WAS: 21-21 (112.5 ppg)
Warriors (25-20, 8-13 Away) vs. Mavericks (18-26, 13-11 Home)
GSW (-4, -110), DAL (+4, -110): 77% of the money is with GSW but 61% of the bets are with DAL
ATS | GSW (road): 8-13, DAL (home): 14-10
Total (232.5) | GSW: 26-19 (116.9 ppg), DAL: 19-25 (114.2 ppg)
Bulls (21-22, 7-13 Away) vs. Timberwolves (27-17, 15-6 Home)
CHI (+9.5, -110), MIN (-9.5, -110): 61% of the money and 62% of the bets are with CHI
ATS | CHI (road): 9-11, MIN (home): 9-12
Total (238.5) | CHI: 20-23 (117.9 ppg), MIN: 22-22 (120.1 ppg)
Spurs (30-14, 13-9 Away) vs. Jazz (15-29, 10-12 Home)
SAS (-13, -110), UTA (+13, -110): 59% of the money and 53% of the bets are with UTA
ATS | SAS (road): 10-11-1, UTA (home): 15-7
Total (238.5) | SAS: 18-27 (117.7 ppg), UTA: 28-16 (119.3 ppg)
Lakers (26-16, 14-8 Away) vs. Clippers (19-24, 11-9 Home)
LAL (+1.5, -114), LAC (-1.5, -106): 77% of the money and 63% of the bets are with LAL
ATS | LAL (road): 12-10, LAC (home): 9-11
Total (223.5) | LAL: 25-17 (116.3 ppg), LAC: 22-21 (112.3 ppg)
Heat (23-21, 8-14 Away) vs. Trail Blazers (22-22, 12-10 Home)
MIA (+1.5, -110), POR (-1.5, -110): 70% of the money is with POR but 59% of the bets are with MIA
ATS | MIA (road): 12-10, POR (home): 14-8
Total (240.5) | MIA: 22-22 (119.5 ppg), POR: 22-22 (116.3 ppg)
NHL
Golden Knights (24-12-12, 12-5-6 Away) vs. Bruins (28-20-21, 7-8-1 Home)
VEG (-1.5, +168), BOS (+1.5, -210): 87% of the money and 70% of the bets are with BOS
ATS | VEG (road): 9-14, BOS (home): 18-8
Moneyline | VEG -134, BOS +112: 84% of the money is with BOS but 52% of the bets are with VEG
Total (6.5) | VEG: 27-21 (3.33 gpg), BOS: 27-23 (3.28 gpg)
Sabres (27-17-5, 11-11-2 Away) vs. Canadiens (28-15-7, 14-10-1 Home)
BUF (+1.5, -196), MON (-1.5, +158): 84% of the money and 72% of the bets are with BUF
ATS | BUF (road): 12-12, MON (home): 10-15
Moneyline | BUF +115, MON -138: 64% of the money and 52% of the bets are with MON
Total (6.5) | BUF: 25-24 (3.27 gpg), MON: 31-19 (3.40 gpg)
Blackhawks (20-22-7, 9-10-3 Away) vs. Hurricanes (31-15-4, 18-8-1 Home)
CHI (+1.5, -102), CAR (-1.5, -120): 91% of the money and 78% of the bets are with CAR
ATS | CHI (road): 14-8, CAR (home): 10-17
Moneyline | CHI +230, CAR -285: 90% of the money and 89% of the bets are with CAR
Total (6.5) | CHI: 20-29 (2.71 gpg), CAR: 26-24 (3.38 gpg)
Red Wings (31-16-4, 13-8-3 Away) vs. Wild (28-14-9, 13-6-6 Home)
DET (+1.5, -170), MIN (-1.5, +138): 87% of the money is with DET but 53% of the bets are with MIN
ATS | DET (road): 14-10, MIN (home): 11-14
Moneyline | DET +142, MIN -172: The money is 50/50 but 66% of the bets are with MIN
Total (5.5) | DET: 25-26 (3.10 gpg), MIN: 29-22 (3.16 gpg)
5. Overtime
In the News
The Bills owner was surprisingly dismissive of a player still under contract for two more seasons. Terry Pegula blamed unnamed coaches for pushing the team to draft underperforming wide receiver Keon Coleman, not his just-promoted president of football operations Brandon Beane. “The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon. I’m not saying Brandon wouldn't have drafted him, but he wasn't his next choice. That was Brandon being a team player and taking advice of his coaching staff who felt strongly about the player,” the owner said.
On the other hand, Texans general manager Nick Caserio defended his quarterback C.J. Stroud after a horrible game led to a playoff exit. “You look at his body of work, this guy’s been a damn good quarterback in this league for three years. I mean, it’s the truth,” Caserio said. Stroud had five interceptions and two fumbles in Houston’s two postseason games after throwing just eight picks in the entire regular season.
Lakers’ owner Jeanie Buss fired five of her siblings after finalizing the sale of the team her father bought in 1979, according to a blockbuster feature by ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “I don’t think my dad would be happy with the way things just went down,” Janie Buss said. The elder Buss bought the Lakers, NHL’s Kings and the Forum arena for $67.5 million, and by the time of last year’s sale the Lakers alone were valued at $10 billion. “Team sources told ESPN [Jeanie Buss] even began to turn against the Lakers’ star player, LeBron James.”
There were two big moves in New York baseball yesterday, with the Mets trading for Brewers’ ace Freddy Peralta and the Yankees re-signing Cody Bellinger to a five-year deal. Peralta, who has played for Milwaukee for his entire eight-year career, had his best season in wins (17), ERA (2.70), and innings pitched (176.2). In his first year with the Yankees, Bellinger had a .334 OBP with 29 home runs and 98 RBI in a career-high 588 at bats.
What to Watch (times ET)
6pm: No. 10 Iowa vs. No. 15 Maryland [WCBB] on NBC
7pm: Wisconsin vs. Penn State [MCBB] on FS1
7:30pm: Warriors vs. Mavericks on Prime Video (or No. 2 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Oklahoma [WCBB] on ESPN)
9pm: Australian Open on ESPN2
9:30pm: Red Wings vs. Wild on ESPN
10pm: Lakers vs. Clippers on Prime Video
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