In four games, Schroder averaged 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6 assists to help lead Oklahoma City to a season’s best four-game win streak. He also shot 50.7% from the field.
Schroder topped the 20-point mark in three of the Thunder’s four victories last week and has done so seven times in the last nine games.
The only game in which he did not score 20 or more was in OKC’s comeback win over the Chicago Bulls on December 16. In that game, he scored 18.
In the Thunder’s come-from-behind victory over Memphis on Wednesday, OKC was spurred by Schroder, who tied a career-high with 31 points. In that win, Schroder shot 10-of-19 from the floor and made 10 of his 11 free-throw attempts, including four down the stretch to ice the game.
Schroder and the Thunder return to action on Thursday, when they try and cap a perfect five-for-five homestand with a win over the Grizzlies.
Previewing Saturday’s Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Chicago Bulls (11-19) visit the Detroit Pistons (11-18) Saturday at 7 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena. We analyze Bulls-Pistons odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
The Bulls rallied from 18 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Washington Wizards 110-109 in overtime Wednesday. Lauri Markkanen finished with 31 points in the win as Chicago improved to 1-1 on this four-game road trip.
The Pistons lost 114-93 Friday night at the Boston Celtics. It was their third loss in a row. Detroit was without three starters – Blake Griffin, Luke Kennard and Reggie Jackson – due to injuries.
Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.
Bulls at Pistons: Key injuries
Bulls
PG Ryan Arcidiacono (elbow) probable
C Wendell Carter Jr. (abdominal) probable
SF Chandler Hutchison (shoulder) out
SG Zach LaVine (shin) probable
SF Otto Porter Jr. (foot) out
Pistons
PF Blake Griffin (knee) questionable
PG Reggie Jackson (back) out
SG Luke Kennard (knee) questionable
SG Khyri Thomas (foot) out
C Christian Wood (knee) out
Bulls at Pistons: 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 11:10 a.m. ET.
AVOID. With the uncertainty of Griffin and Kennard, the Pistons’ -150 is not worth the risk. Every $1.50 wagered on the Detroit ML would profit $1 if it wins. Detroit is only 7-8 at home, while the Bulls (+125) are just 5-9 on the road.
The PISTONS (-2.5, -115) are the STRONGEST PLAY if Griffin and Kennard return. With the back-to-back games, Detroit sat them both Friday in hopes of having them ready and rested for Saturday’s home tilt. The Bulls won the first two meetings of the season vs. the Pistons – both in Chicago – but they have won consecutive games only once this season. Thus, the trend leans toward the Pistons, but Griffin and Kennard have to play. Keep an eye out for their availability status as game time nears.
The UNDER 214.5 (-125) is the play. The Bulls average 105.6 points per game, while the Pistons average 108.4 points per game. The Bulls are 14-16 against the O/U on the season and 7-7 O/U on the road. The Pistons are 15-14 O/U overall and 8-6 O/U at home. With the Pistons playing Friday night, it’s hard to imagine a fast-pace game for 48 minutes.
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Johnny’s December record: 12-3-1. Strongest plays: 6-1.
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Previewing Wednesday’s Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Chicago Bulls (10-19) and Washington Wizards (8-17) meet up at Capital One Arena at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday. We analyze the Bulls-Wizard 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.
Bulls at Wizards: Key injuries
Bulls: PG Ryan Arcidiacono (elbow), PG Zach LaVine (shin) and C Wendell Carter Jr. (abdominal) are each on the injury report, but all expect to be available.
Wizards: C Ian Mahinmi (eye) is expected to be ready, but PF Moritz Wagner (ankle) is ruled out, joining PF Rui Hachimura (groin) in street clothes.
Bulls 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 8 a.m. ET.
The BULLS (-121) are worth a roll of the dice on the road, but keep a close eye on whether or not LaVine is officially cleared to go. If he has some sort of a setback, that’s a problem.
The BULLS(-2.5, +105) are an intriguing play at plus-money. Again, watch LaVine, as his status is important. Chicago is 4-0 ATS in the past four on the road, while going 5-1 ATS in the past six overall. They’re also 5-2 ATS in the past seven against teams with a losing overall mark. More importantly, Chicago is 5-0 ATS in the past five trips to D.C., and 4-1 ATS in the past five overall in this series.
The Wizards (+2.5, -125) are just 2-7 ATS in the past nine on a day of rest, and 1-4 ATS in the past five against teams with a losing overall mark.
PASS. The total is 230.5, and this one will be super close to the number. If there is a lean, it is slightly to the Under (-105). While the Over is 3-1-1 in the past five meetings in this series, the Under is 17-6 in the past 23 meetings in Washington.
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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Steven Adams banked in a free-throw with 4.3 seconds left to give the Thunder the lead in their 109-106 win over Chicago on Monday night.
If there’s one thing that Oklahoma City fans can count on, it’s Steven Adams being his most authentic self.
And once again, that was on display during his post-game interview with reporter Nick Gallo following the Thunder’s 109-106 come from behind win over Chicago.
With 4.3 seconds left on the clock and the game tied at 106, Adams banked in the first of two free-throws. Although he missed the second, he grabbed the offensive rebound, ensuring that Oklahoma City would escape with a victory.
Adams has struggled over the course of his career from the charity stripe but has hit several big free throws down the stretch for Thunder this year.
Gallo asked Adams what he was feeling in the moment making the free throw and then making the big play. And Adams, as is typical of his interviews, did not disappoint.
“I absolutely (expletive) my pants. It’s pretty tough. I didn’t realize how much pressure it is. But I made it mate, can be happy with it.”
The interview definitely made better by Dennis Schroder making fun of Adams for needing to use the backboard.
Regardless of how it happened, Adams’ shot went in and Oklahoma City capped up their largest comeback win at home, overcoming a 26-point deficit to beat the Bulls.
After over a month of the college basketball season, we are starting to get a better picture of what the 2020 NBA Draft will look like.
After over a month of the college basketball season, we are starting to get a better picture of what the 2020 NBA draft will look like.
For example, Georgia Bulldogs freshman Anthony Edwards is beginning to separate himself as a near-consensus No. 1 overall pick. On the other side of the coin, though, several of the projected top selections (LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman, Cole Anthony and RJ Hampton) will miss extended time due to either injury or suspension.
In order to get a better read of the bigger picture, we collected opinions from the top experts and analysts that cover the draft. The latest 2020 NBA mock drafts from ESPN, CBS Sports, SI.com, Bleacher Report, NBADraft.net, The Athletic as well as USA Today Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire were used for these rankings.
Cassius Winston, Aaron Henry, Xavier Tillman in top-45 of The Athletic's NBA Draft Big Board https://t.co/LFrVsMcvZD
One of the most interesting takeaways is that the Michigan State Spartans have three players (Cassius Winston, Aaron Henry and Xavier Tillman) all trending up.
After making the Final Four in last year’s March Madness, the program was expected to take another leap forward for their 2019-20 campaign.
Despite three losses in their first 10 games, the Spartans still rank No. 15 overall this season. This can be attributed to the fact Michigan State currently has the third-best offense in college basketball, per KenPom.com.
They also have three of the most improved players since our last aggregate mock draft. The full list, and more on each of the MSU players moving up draft boards, is included below.
Since our last AMD, this has moved up 17 spots in our rankings.
Despite already being 21 years old, the 6-foot-1 guard currently has a first-round grade from ESPN as well as Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports.
Winston has been one of the best distributors since he began at MSU. 67.1 percent of all field goals for the Spartans have been assisted, which is the sixth-most among all teams so far this season. His career assist rate (44.1 percent) ranks No. 1 overall among all college players who have played at least 50 games since 2009-10, via Sports-Reference.
With 7 assists today vs Rutgers, Cassius Winston now has the 2nd-most career assists (770) in Big Ten History, passing Illinois’ Bruce Douglas.
Winston is now just 46 assists behind Mateen Cleaves for the conference career record (816). pic.twitter.com/BLzMQGjpzx
During his freshman season, he had the second-best assist rate (46.7 percent) in the NCAA. Then as a sophomore, his assist rate (43.5 percent) trailed only Trae Young for the best in college basketball. Last season, his assist mark (44.8 percent) ranked third-best and behind only Ja Morant among all who played for teams that made the tournament.
But he has also shown strength as one of the more accurate shooters in the NCAA.
Winston was 75-for-151 (49.7 percent) from beyond the arc in 2017-18. That helped him join the exclusive 50-40-90 club for field-goal percentage, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage. Even as a sophomore then, the guard was one of the few to have a membership with at least two three-point attempts per game.
There is some enough NBA readiness to show he can contribute right away for a winning team.
Aaron Henry, Wing
AMD Rank: 33
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Since our last AMD, this has moved up 26 spots in our rankings.
Henry was of the players who helped himself the most during the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Then a freshman, he put up 20 points with 6 rebounds and 6 assists during a victory over LSU.
While he has not yet taken the leap some expected as a sophomore, draft experts still have confidence in him as a prospect. His highest ranking right now comes from Jonathan Wasserman, who has him at No. 28 overall (via Bleacher Report):
“The eye test on Henry looks more convincing than the numbers. He isn’t a high-level creator, which limits him in Michigan State’s offense. But the 6’6″ guard is hitting open shots, capitalizing on driving lanes and making impact defensive plays. This late, teams will overlook Henry’s production for his fit.”
Perhaps the best news for the wing is that there is room for improvement. However, there have also been moments that show what Henry is capable of accomplishing at the next level.
This season, for example, the sophomore has been one of the most effective shooters off the catch. He is averaging 1.78 points per possession on catch-and-shoot attempts in a set offense, per Synergy Sports, which ranks in the 98th percentile.
Henry is also shooting 72.7 percent at the rim, which is an especially solid rate for a wing. Overall, he looks like someone capable of being a 3-and-D player in an NBA rotation.
Xavier Tillman, Big
AMD Rank: 50
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Since our last AMD, this has moved up 13 spots in our rankings.
Michigan State has always been a team that plays better with Tillman on the court. Last season, for example, the big actually had the third-best box plus-minus in the NCAA — trailing only Zion Williamson and Brandon Clarke.
Jeremy Woo recently helped contextualize what professional teams may like about the 6-foot-8 junior (via SI.com):
“Tillman specializes in doing the dirty work and has been a largely unheralded yet invaluable piece of the Spartans’ success dating back to last season. He’s not particularly tall for a center but has a chance to be a quality rotational big in the pros with what he adds defensively and on the glass. Tillman has worked on extending his shooting range, and if he ends up being able to shoot the three, he’ll have a fairly strong window of opportunity as a role player. A lot of the things he does as a screener and defender don’t show up in the box score, and while he’ll never be more than a fourth or fifth offensive option, he might be able to thrive in that capacity.”
His best trait so far this season has been his ability to cut to the basket. He is shooting 15-for-17 (88.2 percent) on these attempts, per Synergy.
But he has also added value on the offensive glass and as a rim protector for Michigan State. His willingness and ability to make the most of time on the floor makes him a draftable professional prospect.
Down 26 in the second quarter, the Thunder came back to beat Chicago 109-106, tying the team record for the biggest come-from-behind win.
Buoyed by Chris Paul’s huge fourth quarter, Oklahoma City capped off a historic comeback with a 109-106 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
Down by 26 in the second quarter, the win is the largest come-from-behind victory at home in franchise history. It ties Oklahoma City’s largest comeback overall, matching when the Thunder came from 26 down to beat the Rockets in Houston last February.
Paul hit on all five of his three-point attempts in the fourth quarter, scoring 19 of his team-high 30 points in the final frame.
With the game tied at 106 and 4.3 seconds left on the clock, Steven Adams hit the go-ahead free throw. He missed the second but was able to get the offensive rebound that allowed OKC to keep possession. Paul sank two more free throws to seal the victory.
When asked about what he was feeling in those final moments at the line, Adams was his usual unrestricted self, saying he “absolutely (expletive) his pants” before adding it was “pretty tough”.
Trailing by 26 in the second quarter, the Thunder cut the deficit to 19 at the break, thanks in part to Danilo Gallinari’s 17 first-half points. Oklahoma City outscored the Bulls 33-22 in the third quarter to draw within eight, finishing the quarter on an 8-0 run.
Paul led Oklahoma City with 30 points, while also grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out eight assists.
Three other players were in double digits for the Thunder, Gallinari with 22, Dennis Schroder had 18, and Terrance Ferguson, who returned to the starting lineup for the first time after missing five games with right hip soreness, scored 12.
Because of Ferguson’s absence, coupled with Hamidou Diallo’s elbow injury, Abdel Nader got extended minutes and experience in the starting lineup during Oklahoma City’s recent West Coast road trip.
When asked by Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman if Nader had done enough to earn consistent playing time despite Ferguson’s return, Donovan said that it’s the number of bodies the Thunder has at guard more than anything that determines the minutes Nader will play.
“Sometimes for Abdel it’s been a numbers game more so than anything that he has not done well,” Donovan said. “But I give him credit because some of the injuries we’ve had … the opportunity presented itself.”
Prior to his injury, Ferguson was averaging 5.7 points and shooting 42.4% from the field. In comparison, Nader averaged 10.4 points in his five starts, bringing his season average up to 7.8 points per game while shooting 50.5% from the floor.
However, Ferguson is a more of a defensive stopper than Nader and a presence that the Thunder needs on the floor.
Previewing Monday’s Chicago Bulls at Oklahoma City Thunder sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Chicago Bulls (10-18) visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (11-14) Monday at Chesapeake Energy Arena for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Bulls-Thunder 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.
Bulls at Thunder: Key injuries
Bulls
PG Ryan Arcidiacono (elbow) probable
C Wendell Carter Jr. (abdomen) probable
PG Kris Dunn (knee) probable
C Daniel Gafford (hamstring) questionable
PF Chandler Hutchison (shoulder) doubtful
PG Zach LaVine (shin) probable
SF Otto Porter Jr. (foot) out
PG Tomas Satoransky (toe) probable
SF Denzel Valentine (ankle) probable
Thunder
SG Hamidou Diallo (elbow) out
SF Terrance Ferguson (hip) questionable
SG Andre Roberson (knee) out
Bulls at Thunder: 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 1 p.m. ET.
The Bulls (+200) are coming off a surprise 109-106 home win against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday. They’re 4-6 across their last 10 games and 4-8 on the road for the season. The THUNDER (-250) are our pick as they return home from a four-game road trip. After winning the first two games, they finished the swing with a 94-93 loss to the Sacramento Kings and a 110-102 defeat at the hands of the Denver Nuggets.
Even with several key pieces listed as probable for the Bulls, they’re unlikely to all be at full health and the absence of multiple players would present a significant handicap. Take the home side to snap their mini-losing skid. The Thunder have lost three straight games just once this year.
Get better value with the THUNDER (-5.5, -129) by backing the hosts to win by at least 6 points. OKC is 16-9 against the spread overall and 8-4 at home. Chicago is 14-14 ATS overall and 6-6 on the road. Each of the Thunder’s last three victories were by margins greater than 6 points.
Take the OVER 207.5 (-129) on the lowest projected total on Monday’s NBA slate. Both teams have fallen shy of that number in two of their last four games, but both topped it with ease their last time out. The Bulls put up a season-high 136 points last week against the Atlanta Hawks.
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The Golden State Warriors were easily the most dominant NBA team in the 2010s decade. What teams followed them? Our full rankings included.
The end of the decade is upon us, which a good time to look at the teams that thrived and those that took a nosedive over the 2010s.
For clarity, the period examined begins with the 2010-11 NBA season and ends Dec. 12, 2019, rather than bridging games that were played in the second half of 2009-10. Remember, the 2011-12 season was limited to 66 games due to a players’ strike.
30. Sacramento Kings
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Kings have been consistent … as in consistently under .500. The last time the franchise had a winning season was 2005-06. It will be interesting to see if they can get over the .500 mark this go-round. The Kings are currently flirting with .500 but still under.
