Watch as Patriots’ Jamie Collins Sr. does incredible backflip at practice

A typical day at New England Patriots’ practice Wednesday. Watch as the team goes through its drills and all 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds of linebacker Jamie Collins puts on an incredible display of athleticism and agility. Check this out: So we all knew …

A typical day at New England Patriots’ practice Wednesday. Watch as the team goes through its drills and all 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds of linebacker Jamie Collins puts on an incredible display of athleticism and agility.

Check this out:

Pretty good for a 30-year-old who is in his seventh season in the NFL.

Collins is thriving in his second go-round in New England.

What do you think it is more athletic, Collins’ backflip or the cartwheel by Ohio U’s OL Hagen Meservy?

Report: Caris LeVert has ligament damage in right thumb

Caris LeVert may miss some time for the Brooklyn Nets because of his right thumb.

The Brooklyn Nets may be without Caris LeVert longer than initially anticipated. The shooting guard was ruled out against the Utah Jazz due to a right thumb sprain.

But now, Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting LeVert’s injury is more than a sprain. LeVert has ligament damage in his right thumb and is in the process of visiting specialists.

With Wilson Chandler still having 15 games left on his suspension for violating the NBA’s drug policy in the offseason and LeVert’s status being up in the air over the next few weeks, the Nets were in need of another body. Both Chandler and LeVert’s situation, combined with Brooklyn’s defensive struggles through the first 10 games of the season, all could have played a role in the Nets agreeing to a deal with Iman Shumpert, which was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Prior to his injury, LeVert was averaging 16.8 points per game on 42.1% shooting (36.1% from three).

76ers-Magic odds: Philly a road dog without Joel Embiid

Previewing Wednesday’s Philadelphia 76ers at Orlando Magic sports betting odds and lines, with NBA matchup analysis and picks.

The Philadelphia 76ers (7-3) begin a three-game road trip Wednesday against the Orlando Magic (3-7) at Amway Center. Tip-off is set for shortly after 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the 76ers-Magic 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.

76ers at Magic: Key injuries

76ers

  • PG Trey Burke (calf) questionable
  • PF Joel Embiid (rest) out

76ers at Magic: 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 2:20 p.m. ET.

Prediction

76ers 105, Magic 93

Moneyline (ML)

The Sixers are coming off an all-too-close 98-97 home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. They improved to 4-0 at home with the victory but they now hit the road at 3-3. They’ve won two games in a row after previously beating the Charlotte Hornets 114-106. Philadelphia outscores the opposition by an average of 109.7-105.3 points per game.

The Magic are stuck in 13th in the Eastern Conference following last year’s surprising playoff berth. They’re 0-4 on the road but a respectable 3-3 on home court; however, they dropped a 109-102 decision to the Indiana Pacers at home Sunday. They’ve played tight games but have been outscored by an average of 99.3-98.1.

Philadelphia may be the tired team on the second half of a back-to-back with travel, but it’s also the far deeper team. Star PF Al Horford rested Tuesday, ensuring he’ll be ready to go Wednesday night with Embiid out of the lineup. Take plus money with the 76ers at +110 for the outright win.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Sixers fetches an $11 profit with a straight-up victory.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The 76ers are 5-4 against the spread overall and 3-2 as the visitors. The Magic are 3-6 ATS overall and just 2-3-1 at home. Side with PHILADELPHIA to cover a spread of just +2.5 with -115 odds. The same $10 bet returns a profit of $8.70.

The Magic are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a winning record. The Sixers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS loss and 4-0 ATS in their last four Wednesday games.

Over/Under (O/U)

The Magic are the worst Over team in the league with a record of 2-7-1 against the projected totals and they fall an average of 10.6 points shy of the projected totals. The Sixers are 5-5 against the O/U but still fall 2.4 points shy of the projection on average.

Take the UNDER 206.5 (-115) with Philadelphia coming in without rest. This is its first back-to-back situation of the year.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Esten’s NBA betting record: 30-26

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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Packers CB Tramon Williams quietly having strong season

The 36-year-old cornerback is having a quietly strong season for the Packers in the slot.

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The interception was a gift, the result of a smart play by safety Adrian Amos in the end zone during the Green Bay Packers’ 24-16 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Veteran cornerback Tramon Williams was in the right place at the right time. He made the diving interception behind Amos, taking points off the board and giving the Packers an NFL-leading fourth pick in the end zone this season.

Williams, now 36, has been in the right place at the right time all season.

Quietly, Williams is having a strong and steady year. He not only has the highest overall grade at Pro Football Focus among Packers cornerbacks, but he’s allowed a passer rating against his coverage of only 67.3, according to Pro Football Reference.

Williams’ interception was his first during the 2019 season and his first for the Packers since the 2014 season.

Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine plugged Williams in as the slot cornerback over the summer, figuring his football intelligence and experience would give the Packers a smart, savvy player to handle coverage duties from the inside.

For long stretches in 2019, slot receivers have done little against the Packers defense.

Williams is a big reason why. He’s played 74 percent of the defense’s snaps while allowing Jaire Alexander and Kevin King to handle responsibilities on the perimeter.

How good has Williams been? The Packers view Josh Jackson’s best position at slot cornerback, but the 2018 second-round pick hasn’t been active last two weeks because Williams is fully entrenched in the nickel.

While Alexander and King have the flashy numbers, and Amos and rookie Darnell Savage have salvaged the safety position, Williams’ steady presence shouldn’t be overlooked. Even at 36, he’s thrived as the Packers’ slot cornerback through the first 10 games.

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