Category: NBA

Zion Williamson is finally dunking again

He’s (almost) baaaaaaack.

It’s been a long time since we last saw Zion Williamson do anything notable while holding a basketball.

He last played in October during the preseason before the Pelicans held him out with a knee injury that, eventually, required surgery to fix.

He was due to be out six to eight weeks after meniscus surgery, but we’re well outside of that window now. The Pelicans are currently working on his kinetic chain to reduce wear and tear on his body.

It looks like all of that rehab is finally starting to pay off,. Williamson was spotted on the practice court for the Pelicans a couple of weeks ago.  On Saturday night, ahead of the Pelicans’ game against the Pacers, the number one pick was spotted dunking again.

And not JUST dunking — throwing down powerful one handed jams.

There was also this one with his right hand.

The Pelicans aren’t putting a date on his return but, hopefully, Williamson could be throwing down in an actual game soon enough. If these dunks are any indication, he’s feeling good.

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LeBron James responds to Kyle Kuzma’s trainer: ‘I could care less about the guy’

Here comes the Lakers drama.

The Los Angeles Lakers seemed unstoppable just a few weeks ago, but after a four-game losing streak was capped by a loss to the rival Clippers on Christmas Day, critics of the Lakers are getting louder. Earlier this week, Kyle Kuzma’s own trainer attempted to start a beef with LeBron James, which the four-time MVP squashed on Saturday.

On Friday, Instagram posts surfaced from Kyle Kuzma’s trainer, Clint Parks, that included harsh criticism of Lakers star LeBron James.

Parks called James out after his Christmas Day performance against the Clippers, insinuating that it was clear that James’ Los Angeles counterpart Kawhi Leonard had sharper skills than James.

Kuzma’s trainer claimed that LeBron James was running from the matchup against Leonard and, basically, wasn’t as good as he was being made out to be.

Then, all of a sudden, Kuzma dropped a tweet himself that said “Call a spade a spade” with a shrug emoji. The tweet was deleted shortly after it was posted.

Boy, that paragraph was peak 2019. Anyway, take a look.

The next day, James was asked about the criticism from Kuzma’s trainer and the deleted tweet from his own teammate. He said Kuzma came to him to address the situation and it was fine, but he also had some not-so-kind words for Kuzma’s trainer.

“Kuz came to me yesterday, after practice and told me what was going on. And that was it. I really don’t care for someone’s trainer or whatever the case may be. Everyone can have their own opinion and anytime someone wants to get some notoriety they can throw my name in and people are going to pick it up. That’s why you’re asking me about it, because my name was in it. I’ve never met the guy, I don’t know the guy, I could care less about the guy.”

Sheesh. That’s a scathing statement from James and not a great look for Kuzma. Even if Kuzma isn’t openly endorsing his trainer’s comments, it’s never great to have to go and explain something to a teammate of yours after practice.

Hopefully, it doesn’t lead to a disruption in chemistry down the line for the Lakers. They certainly don’t need it — they’re losers of four straight and have a matchup on the road against the Trail Blazers coming up. Now isn’t the time for drama.

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Zach Randolph officially announced his retirement on Twitter

We’ll always remember the Randolph-led “Grit and Grind” era in Memphis.

It’s rare that you come across a team that had an “era” without ever actually winning a title. That’s what the Grizzlies were in Memphis from 2011 to 2017

They beat up on the league’s best teams. They were a matchup no one wanted to see when the playoffs rolled around. Tony Allen, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol were the foundation of the NBA’s grit and grind Grizzlies.

You can’t talk about those Grizzlies without talking about Zach Randolph, the team’s All-Star power forward. That era just took another hit with him officially announcing his retirement from the NBA over the weekend.

I gave this game my all, and it gave everything back and more. Basketball will always be a part of me. From Marion, to East Lansing, to Portland, NY, LA, Memphis, Sacramento and everywhere in Between — thank you all for an incredible journey.

In total, Randolph played 17 seasons and averaged 16.6 points along with 9.1 rebounds per game while shooting 47% from the field. He made two All-Star appearances in his career — both with the Grizzlies. He played for five teams in total, but Memphis was his most notable stop.

With Randolph officially retiring, only Conley and Gasol are the last remnants left of that team’s core. Their run was spectacular while it lasted despite a less than stellar ending.

They never won a championship or reached the NBA Finals, but they were never supposed to. They mostly played the spoiler and just made the league more fun. Randolph was a big part of that and he’ll certainly be missed because of it.

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Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Mavericks at Warriors NBA matchup with NBA betting odds, picks and best bets

The Golden State Warriors (9-24) are on a four game win streak as the Dallas Mavericks (20-10) drop by the Chase Center in San Francisco for an 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff. We analyze Mavericks-Warriors odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Mavericks at Warriors: Key injuries

Warriors

  • PG Steph Curry (wrist) out
  • SG Klay Thompson (knee) out
  • SG Eric Paschall (hip) out
  • C Kevon Looney (abdomen) out

Mavericks at Warriors: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Saturday at 1:25 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Mavericks 129, Warriors 107

Moneyline (ML)

Let me put the kibosh on something now:  betting heavy favorites on the moneyline in regular-season NBA games. If you’re laying -190 and up on an NBA regular-season game, then the other team better be playing with four players on the court. I cannot in good conscious recommend the Mavericks -667 on the moneyline. Hell, despite what I am going to write about the Mavericks-Warriors against the spread, if you were to bet a moneyline I’d prefer you just take the Warriors +475 for long run ROI plays.

As I see it though, PASS THE MONEYLINE. If they played each other 100 times, the Mavericks trample the Warriors 80 times.

New to sports betting? You would need to be $667 to turn a profit of $100 on the Mavericks to win straight up. Again — a bet you should never make in an NBA regular-season game.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

You can tell by my projected score that I envision a one-sided affair in the Mavericks-Warriors game. The Mavericks are 10-3 on the road straight up and ATS. Their offense is potent:  ranked first in Offensive Rating (116.4) and fourth in points per game (116.7). The rust should be knocked off Luka Doncic since it’s his second game back from an ankle injury. In his first game back, Doncic put up 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists Thursday in a 102-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Is the jig up for the Warriors, who are riding a four-game win streak but on the second night of a back-to-back? I believe so. They got an amazingly spirited effort from Draymond Green and the defense Friday night (along with some poor shooting from the Phoenix Suns). But going against a powerhouse offense, like the Mavericks have been so far this season, the MAVERICKS -11.5 (-106) is the play.

Over/under (O/U)

BET OVER 216.5 (-129) even though the vig is trash. I hate laying $129 to earn a profit of $100. Not ideal. But BetMGM knows what’s up and that the 216.5 is super low that’s why they are charging us more to take the OVER.

The Mavericks’ over/under record is 19-11. The Warriors rank 25th in opponent’s points per game, 29th in opponent’s field goal% and 28th in opponent’s 3-point %. Luka & Co. should score at will against this matador Warriors defense. There is a slight pause in my handicap only because the Warriors have just a 14-19 record in over/unders. Because the Mavericks offense should have success against the Warriors and the Warriors will be chucking 3s to stay in the game, I am down for a half-unit BET on OVER 216.5 (-129). 

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Detroit Pistons at San Antonio Spurs odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Detroit Pistons at San Antonio Spurs sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Detroit Pistons (12-20) and San Antonio Spurs (12-18) will tangle at AT&T Center at 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday. We analyze the Pistons-Spurs odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.

Pistons at Spurs: Key injuries

Pistons

  • PG Sekou Doumbouya (illness) out
  • C Andre Drummond (calf) probable
  • SG Reggie Jackson (back) out
  • PF Markieff Morris (foot) out
  • SF Luke Kennard (knee) out
  • SF Khyri Thomas (foot) out

Pistons at Spurs: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated 11:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Spurs 111, Pistons 104

Moneyline (ML)

The Spurs (-208) have struggled with consistency this season, and you cannot lay more than double your return on a team which isn’t even above .500.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Spurs to win outright returns a profit of $4.80.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The SPURS (-5.5, -106) are worth a small-unit bet, as the Pistons (+5.5, -115) are just too banged up right now. Plus, the Pistons are 1-5 ATS in the past six games overall, and 3-9-1 ATS in their past 13 games on the road. San Antonio is 4-1-1 ATS in the past six games overall, and 7-3 ATS in their past 10 against Detroit.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 220.5 (+105) is an intriguing play at plus-money. The Under is 6-2 in the past eight meetings in this series, and 4-0 in the past four meetings in San Antonio, too. The Under is also 7-1 in the past eight for the Pistons.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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New York Knicks at Washington Wizards odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s New York Knicks at Washington Wizards sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Washington Wizards (9-21) host the New York Knicks (8-24) Saturday at Capital One Arena for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Knicks-Wizards odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.

Knicks at Wizards: Key injuries

Knicks

  • SG Reggie Bullock (neck) out
  • SG Wayne Ellington (Achilles) questionable
  • PF Mitchell Robinson (toe) questionable
  • PG Dennis Smith Jr. (oblique) out

Wizards

  • SG Bradley Beal (leg) questionable
  • PF Davis Bertans (quad) out
  • C Thomas Bryant (foot) out
  • PF Rui Hachimura (groin) out
  • SF C.J. Miles (wrist) out
  • C Moritz Wagner (ankle) out
  • PG John Wall (Achilles) out

Knicks at Wizards: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 11 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Wizards 112, Knicks 106

Moneyline (ML)

The value on the host WIZARDS (+110) is too great to pass up in a battle of two bottom feeders in the Eastern Conference. Both sides are ravaged by injuries, making this even more of a coin flip game in which it only makes sense to chase the value of a plus-money return.

Washington is 4-7 at home while the Knicks are 4-12 on the road. The Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak their last time out (Thursday) with a 94-82 win over the Brooklyn Nets. The Wiz are coming off a 132-102 loss to the Detroit Pistons Thursday, but they dropped the Knicks 121-115 Monday.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Wizards to win outright returns a profit of $11.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Stick with the moneyline bet for the underdog Wizards rather than taking worse odds (-115) to cover a spread of just +2.5. The two points of insurance in the event of a Washington loss results in a $8.70 net return and $2.30 of lost profit on the same $10 bet. The Knicks are 16-16 against the spread overall and 9-7 on the road. The Wiz are 15-14 ATS overall and 5-6 at home. It’s another strong indication of this matchup being more of a pick ’em than one which favors the visiting Knicks. PASS.

Over/Under (O/U)

Take the UNDER 228.5 (-115) on a high projection. The two sides played to a combined total of 236 points Monday, but they’ve both been busy this week and the injury absences detract from the offensive appeal of this game. It’ll be tight, but expect the final score to fall short of the projection.

Esten’s NBA betting record: 116-81

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Brooklyn Nets at Houston Rockets odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Brooklyn Nets at Houston Rockets sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Brooklyn Nets (16-14) and Houston Rockets (21-10) battle at Toyota Center at 8 p.m. ET Saturday. We analyze the Nets-Rockets odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.

Nets at Rockets: Key injuries

Nets

  • PG Kyrie Irving (shoulder) out
  • SG Caris LeVert (thumb) out

Rockets

  • C Clint Capela (heel) doubtful
  • SF Eric Gordon (knee) out
  • SF Thabo Sefolosha (illness) questionable
  • SF Gerald Green (foot) out
  • C Nene Hilario (thigh) out

Nets at Rockets: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated 11:15 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Rockets 120, Nets 113

Moneyline (ML)

The Rockets (-500) are heavy favorites, but you can’t lay five times your potential return. It’s just way too expensive, especially in what should be a fairly close game.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Rockets to win outright returns a profit of $2.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The NETS (+9.5, -115) head down to the Gulf Coast with a 5-0 ATS mark in their past five meetings in Houston, and 8-2 ATS mark in the past 10 battles with the Rockets (-9.5, -106), too. The Rockets are also 0-4 ATS in the past four at home, and 3-7 ATS in the past 10 as a favorite.

Over/Under (O/U)

PASS. The total (233.5) should be really close. Steer far clear. If there is a lean, it’s to the Over (-115), which is 6-2 in the past eight meetings, and 7-3 in the past 10 in Houston.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Toronto Raptors (21-10) visit the rival Boston Celtics (22-7) Saturday, as the two sides meet for the second time this week. Tip-off at TD Garden is set for 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Raptors-Celtics odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.

Raptors at Celtics: Key injuries

Raptors

  • C Marc Gasol (hamstring) out
  • SG Norman Powell (shoulder) out
  • PF Pascal Siakam (groin) out
  • PG Matt Thomas (finger) out
  • C Dewan Hernandez (ankle) out

Celtics

  • C Vincent Poirier (finger) out
  • SG Marcus Smart (eye) questionable
  • C Robert Williams III (hip) out

Raptors at Celtics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Celtics 123, Raptors 108

Moneyline (ML)

The Celtics (-278) are large favorites at home coming off Wednesday’s 118-102 victory over the Raptors (+220) at home. The Raptors have been off since the Christmas Day defeat, while the Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-117 Friday.

Boston is 13-1 at home for the season and Toronto is 8-6 on the road. The Celtics’ win streak is up to five games, while the injury-riddled Raptors have dropped two in a row for just the second time this season. The Celtics would be the play, but these odds involve too much chalk as a $10 bet on an outright Boston win would profit just $3.60.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Get a better profit margin by backing the CELTICS (-6.5, -106) on the spread. They’ll need to win by at least 7 points for the bet to cash. Boston failed to cover Friday as a 13.5-point favorite over the Cavaliers, but it’s still 18-9 against the spread and 9-4 at home. Toronto is 18-13 ATS overall and 7-7 on the road.

The Celtics won each of the two head-to-head meetings this season by 6 and 16 points. Toronto’s injuries will be more of a factor late in the game than Boston’s back-to-back.

Over/Under (O/U)

Take the OVER 216.5 (-106) with the Raptors lacking top defenders in Gasol and Siakam. Boston topped 110 points in each of its last four games and Wednesday’s contest played to a combined point total of 220.

Esten’s NBA betting record: 116-81

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Dewayne Dedmon is an underrated NBA trade chip if teams can stomach the contract

He could help a team that needs a floor spacer.

We’re over a month away from the NBA trade deadline, but a name has popped up that might seem, at first glance, like not that big deal.

It’s Kings center Dewayne Dedmon. And according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, he wants out of Sacramento.

The good news for him is, per Charania, “multiple teams are making offers to the franchise in anticipation of a deal prior to the February trade deadline.”

It’s kind of shocking after he signed a three-year, $41 million contract that it’s come to this. Dedmon hit free agency this past summer and was a sneaky-good value — he could block a shot a game and nail from distance (he hit 38.2 percent from three last season for the Atlanta Hawks) after developing a three-point shot. He’s had some troubles with that shot this year, which might explain why he’s barely played. It doesn’t help that Richaun Holmes is having a breakout year of his own.

But Dedmon might just need a change of scenery. Who doesn’t want a floor-spacing big man who can also clog the middle?

The problem is that contract. If a contender who needs depth in the middle wants to take him on, it’ll be costly. That’s why you’re seeing hypothetical trade proposals like these:

Honestly, I don’t believe he’s going to get that kind of return for the Kings. I bet opposing teams see it as a buy-low opportunity if they can find a way to match salaries.

But I’m standing by what I said: he could be a really useful part of a playoff rotation if he ends up on a contender.

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