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In Today’s Newsletter…
1. Leading Off: Are the Hornets really as good as their last 15 games?
2. Scouting Report: Williamson averaged 26+ points for Pelicans in 3 games since break
3. Game of the Day: 76ers coming off two blowout wins
4. By the Numbers: NBA, MCBB and NHL odds and prediction market intel
5. Overtime: Quarterbacks could be on the move in NFL with limited Draft options
1. Leading Off
Charlotte was supposed to be a year or two away. LaMelo Ball had played 50 or fewer games in three straight seasons and the front office has been quietly retooling around a young core, so nobody had the Hornets circled as a playoff team in October. But at 28-31, they’ve won 12 of their last 15 and are firmly in the East play-in conversation. This run might not be just a schedule mirage.
They opened this stretch with nine straight wins, beating Philadelphia by 37, San Antonio, and Houston on the road along the way. The three losses came against Detroit, Houston, and Cleveland, all contenders to go deep into the playoffs. How is this happening? Ball finally has other creators around him: Brandon Miller leads the team in scoring, rookie Kon Knueppel has given them a third option who can make shots off movement, and Miles Bridges still averages over 18 points per game despite the added offense.
Charlotte has been here before in the Ball era, flirting with relevance only to fall apart. But this group is deeper and younger than those teams. With Indiana, Portland, and Dallas coming up next, the Hornets have a real chance to jump to ninth in the conference to start March. In the East's wide-open play-in bracket, that might be enough to make Charlotte matter.
— Abe Rakov
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2. Scouting Report
Change of Scenery Helped Kuminga in Game 1, Williamson on Roll Since Break
Jonathan Kuminga | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Hawks F Jonathan Kuminga (vs. Wizards)
Kuminga had his highest-scoring output of the season in his first game with the Hawks, netting 27 points on 9-12 from the field against these same Wizards. He also added seven rebounds and four assists, both also above his season average. Kuminga isn’t going to score 27 every night, but the much-maligned fourth-year player will be looking to prove himself after the situation in Golden State ended so poorly. Another matchup against the Wizards should be helpful in that effort.
Points: TBA (12.8 - 27, 10, 20, 2, 4), Reb: TBA (5.9 - 7, 1, 5, 4, 7), Ast: TBA (2.6 - 4, 2, 2, 1, 3)
WAS - L2 (4-6 L10) | Points Allowed: 122.8 (29th), Reb Allowed: 48.0 (30th), Ast Allowed: 28.7 (29th)
Pelicans F Zion Williamson (at Jazz)
Williamson has averaged over 26 points in the three games since the All Star break, all against serviceable defenses. After tying a season-high with eight assists two games ago, he dished out zero on Tuesday, which followed a trend of inconsistent sharing throughout this campaign. The Jazz allow the most points per game in the league, over three a night more than the next-worst team (that’s a huge gap).
Points: 24.5 (21.9 - 26, 21, 32, 25, 18), Reb: 6.5 (6.0 - 6, 6, 2, 4, 5), Ast: 3.5 (3.5 - 0, 8, 2, 3, 6)
UTA - L3 (3-7 L10) | Points Allowed: 125.9 (30th), Reb Allowed: 45.1 (21st), Ast Allowed: 30.3 (30th)
Hornets F Brandon Miller (at Pacers)
Miller shook off two terrible shooting nights in his first games back from the break (22.7% against Houston and 31.6% vs. Cleveland) by scoring 23 and 22 points in his last two matchups — with a 56%+ field goal percentage in both. He was ejected for arguing with officials in the third quarter of his lone matchup against the Pacers this year, and had scored just six points on 2-8 shooting (1-5 from three) before being kicked out. The Pacers have lost four in a row and gave up 131+ in each of their past three games.
Points: 21.5 (20.6 - 23, 22, 18, 17, 31), Reb: 4.5 (4.6 - 5, 4, 2, 4, 9), Ast: 3.5 (3.4 - 3, 3, 4, 7, 2)
IND - L4 (2-8 L10) | Points Allowed: 119.2 (25th), Reb Allowed: 47.0 (28th), Ast Allowed: 26.0 (9th)
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - Last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
3. Game of the Day
Maxey Scored 27+ in 4 Games Since All Star Break (7 Straight Overall) But Sixers Have Won Just 5 of 10
Tyrese Maxey | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Philadelphia has reeled off back-to-back blowout wins to get right since a rough start to the post-All-Star stretch, as they opened with losses to Atlanta and New Orleans before routing Minnesota by 27 and Indiana by 21. Tyrese Maxey is leading the way, dropping 39 and 32 in those wins while shooting 52% from the floor across both. Rookie VJ Edgecombe is heating up alongside him, scoring 24 and 23 while shooting 69% in the Indiana win. At 32-26, the Sixers are fifth in the East.
Miami is coming off a 128-117 loss in Milwaukee on Tuesday where a 39-24 fourth quarter buried them. Norman Powell led with 26 but turned it over six times, and Tyler Herro shot just 5-17. Bam Adebayo chipped in 18 points and nine rebounds in the loss. The Heat are 31-28 and seventh in the East.
Heat (31-28, 14-17 Away) vs. 76ers (32-26, 15-15 Home)
7pm
The Odds
Spread: MIA +1.5 (-106), PHI -1.5 (-114)
75% of the money and 73% of the bets are with PHI
ATS | MIA (away): 15-16, PHI (home): 16-14
Moneyline: MIA +110, PHI -130
Total (240.5): Over -110, Under -110
MIA: 30-29, PHI: 30-28
Head-to-Head
Prediction Markets Data
Spread: MIA 52%; Moneyline: PHI (1.73x) 55%; Under 241.5 Points: 52%
Players to Watch
MIA G Norman Powell | Points: 20.5 (22.9 - 26, 25, 15, 21, 24), Reb: 3.5 (3.6 - 6, 2, 3, 4, 3), Ast: 2.5 (2.6 - 0, 6, 2, 0, 4)
PHI G Tyrese Maxey | Points: 27.5 (29.1 - 32, 30, 27, 28, 32), Reb: 4.5 (4.1 - 9, 3, 3, 3, 2), Ast: 6.5 (6.7 - 8, 8, 7, 3, 2)
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - Last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
4. By the Numbers
Bettors Are Split in Bulls vs. Trail Blazers Matchup, Back Spartans to Beat Spread on Road
Jrue Holiday | Soobum Im-Imagn Images
NBA
Hornets (28-31, 16-15 Away) vs. Pacers (15-44, 10-20 Home)
Spread | CHA -13 (-110), IND +13, (-110): 55% of the money is with IND
Moneyline | CHA -700, IND +500
Prediction Markets Data | Spread: CHA 52%; Moneyline: CHA 85%; Under 230.5 Points: 53%
Wizards (16-41, 5-22 Away) vs. Hawks (29-31, 12-16 Home)
Spread | WAS +11.5 (-108), ATL -11.5, (-112): 63% of the money is with WAS (but 58% of the bets are with ATL)
Moneyline | WAS +480, ATL -650
Prediction Markets Data | Spread: ATL 55%; Moneyline: ATL 83%; Over 233.5 Points: 50%
Trail Blazers (28-31, 12-16 Away) vs. Bulls (24-35, 15-16 Home)
Spread | POR -4 (-112), CHI +4, (-108): 66% of the money is with CHI (but 61% of the bets are with POR)
Moneyline | POR -176, CHI +148
Prediction Markets Data | Spread: 50/50; Moneyline: POR 60%; Under 235.5 Points: 51%
Lakers (34-23, 18-11 Away) vs. Suns (33-26, 19-12 Home)
Spread | LAL -5 (-110), PHX +5, (-110): 90% of the money is with LAL
Moneyline | LAL -198, PHX +166
Prediction Markets Data | Spread: 50/50; Moneyline: LAL 65%; Over 217.5 Points: 52%
Pelicans (17-42, 6-21 Away) vs. Jazz (18-40, 11-18 Home)
Spread | NOP -4.5 (-112), UTA +4.5, (-108): 92% of the money is with UTA
Moneyline | NOP -190, UTA +160
Prediction Markets Data | Spread: NOP 51%; Moneyline: NOP 62%, Over 240.5: 53%
Timberwolves (36-23, 16-12 Away) vs. Clippers (27-30, 14-12 Home)
Spread | MIN -5.5 (-108), LAC +5.5, (-112): 51% of the money is with MIN (but 52% of the bets are with LAC)
Moneyline | MIN -198, LAC +166
Prediction Markets Data | Spread: MIN 51%; Moneyline: MIN 65%; Over 225.5 Points: 53%
MCBB
No. 13 Michigan State (22-5, 12-4 Big Ten) vs. No. 8 Purdue (22-5, 12-4 Big Ten)
Spread | MSU +7.5 (-114), PUR -7.5, (-106): 72% of the money is with MSU
Moneyline | MSU +285, PUR -365
Prediction Markets Data | Spread: PUR 54%; Moneyline: PUR 74%; Over 140.5 Points: 52%
Wichita State (18-10, 10-5 American) vs. Memphis (12-15, 7-7 American)
Spread | WICH +0.5 (-104), MEM -0.5, (-118): 60% of the money is with MEM
Moneyline | WICH +100, MEM -120
Prediction Markets Data | Spread: MEM -1.5 46%; Moneyline: MEM 51%; Under 146.5 Points: 55%
NHL
Blue Jackets (29-20-7, 14-12-3 Away) vs. Bruins (32-20-5, 21-8-1 Home)
Spread | CBJ +1.5 (-265), BOS -1.5, (+210): 83% of the money is with CBJ
Moneyline | CBJ -104, BOS -115
Prediction Markets Data | Spread: CBJ 68%; Moneyline: BOS 51%; Under 146.5 Points: 55%
Red Wings (33-19-6, 15-9-4 Away) vs. Senators (28-22-7, 14-10-4 Home)
Spread | DET +1.5 (-230), OTT -1.5, (+184): 51% of the money is with OTT (but 81% of the bets are with DET)
Moneyline | DET +116, OTT -140
Prediction Markets Data | Spread: DET 64%; Moneyline: OTT 56%; Under 6.5 Goals: 51%
5. Overtime
In the News
ESPN’s Baxter Holmes is out with a feature headlined “The secret Kobe Bryant-Michael Jordan connection few knew about,” which is sure to get some clicks. Holmes reported that Jordan was the first Black Mamba, writing: On March 14, 2004, the same month the $165 shoe launched, a two-page black mamba Air Jordan 19 advertisement appeared in ESPN The Magazine, part of a print-focused run that Thomas said included other national magazines. It carried the tagline "Only Greatness Equals Greatness." Then, the campaign quickly pivoted.
The quarterback class in this year’s NFL Draft is pretty small, which could mean veterans get more of a look. Kirk Cousins will be available in two weeks, but the Associated Press looked at what the market could be if the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa or Cardinals’ Kyler Murray become available.
CBS Sports looks at the 10 players that could jump up in the NFL Draft with a solid performance at the combine. Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq and South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore are ones to watch. The combine continues in Indianapolis through March 2nd.
Cincinnati is suing its former quarterback for $1 million after he left for Texas Tech during the transfer window. The school says the signal caller refused to pay his exit fee within 30 days as required by the NIL contract he signed. The senior was one of the top quarterbacks available in the portal and reportedly signed a deal worth at least $4 million with the Red Raiders.
The new Automatic Ball-Strike challenge system that MLB rolled out during Spring Training could end up being a pitcher’s worst nightmare. Reining National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes saw four called strikes challenged and overturned, including one that turned out to be a ball by one-tenth of an inch, according to Yahoo Sports.
What to Watch (times ET)
6pm: Tennessee vs. No. 6 LSU (WCBB) on ESPN
7:30pm: Rockets vs. Magic on Prime Video
8pm: No. 13 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Purdue (MCBB) on Peacock (or Flyers vs. Rangers on ESPN)
9pm: Wichita State vs. Memphis (MCBB) on ESPN2
10pm: Timberwolves vs. Clippers on Prime Video
10:30pm: Oilers vs. Kings on ESPN
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