Tag: NBA

Rockets luxury tax update after waiving Ryan Anderson

The Rockets are now carrying fourteen players on the roster. If they finish the season with the exact same roster, they would be $178,984 above the luxury tax for a tax payment of $268,476.

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The Houston Rockets waived forward Ryan Anderson on Monday. He only appeared in two games and did not play after Nov. 3.

Anderson was only guaranteed $500,000 after making the team’s opening night roster. The Rockets could have kept Anderson for four more days before his salary would’ve exceeded his guarantee, but they decided to part ways with him now.

The Rockets are now carrying 14 players on the roster. If they finish the season with the exact same roster, they would be $178,984 above the luxury tax for a tax payment of $268,476.

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The Rockets can get below the tax by trading some of their minimum-salaried players by the deadline and then signing new players on pro-rated deals. This was a practice they engaged in last season in order to completely avoid the luxury tax.

Nene, who was signed in order to be used as trade fodder, is widely expected to be traded once trade-eligible on January 15, 2020.

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One factor that can complicate the Rockets pursuit of avoiding the luxury tax is if Clint Capela earns some or all of his incentives. He has three incentives that can boost his salary by up to $2 million. Right now, he is on a rebounding tear and is on pace to have at least a 30 percent defensive rebounding percentage (currently at 33 percent per Basketball-Reference), which would give him an extra $500,000. He also must play at least 2,000 minutes to meet the criteria.

Two-way player Chris Clemons, who is in the rotation after playing in eight of the team’s last nine games, is a candidate for the 15th roster spot. The Rockets could run out his two-way clock and then convert him onto the regular roster with a prorated minimum salary.

The Rockets could trade both Nene and Gerald Green and have about $4 million in space below the tax. That should be plenty to work with for converting Clemons onto the regular-season roster, filling minimum roster requirements with 10-day contracts, and ultimately signing free agents to rest-of-season contracts while leaving some room for Capela’s potential incentives.

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Warriors-Grizzlies odds: Memphis favored by a handful

Previewing Tuesday’s Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies sports betting odds, with NBA matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Golden State Warriors (2-12) visit the Memphis Grizzlies (5-8) Tuesday at FedEx Forum for an 8 p.m. ET start. We analyze the Warriors-Grizzlies 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.

Warriors at Grizzlies: Key injuries

Warriors

  • PG Stephen Curry (hand) out
  • PF Alen Smailagic (ankle) questionable
  • SG Jacob Evans (hip) out
  • SG D’Angelo Russell (thumb sprain) out

Grizzlies

  • SG Grayson Allen (ankle) out

Warriors at Grizzlies: 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 9:20 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Grizzlies 115, Warriors 106

Moneyline (ML)

The -278 line for the home GRIZZLIES is very low but they are 3-5 at home facing a Warriors team just 1-6 on the road. Golden State continues to manage to lose late in games.

The Warriors allow 119 points per game and can barely muster 110 points per night on offense.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the GRIZZLIES to win outright returns a profit of $3.60. It’s chalky, but Golden State has a low probability of winning Tuesday night.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The GRIZZLIES (-6.5, -115) is the play here. A Grizzlies cover (win by seven or more points) returns a profit of $8.70.

The Grizzlies are 5-8 against the spread overall while staying right around the spread (-0.2 points per game below projections). Golden State is 1-6 ATS on the road while falling further short of projections at minus-3.5 points per game.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 222.5 (-106) is where we lean Tuesday. Memphis does not quite have the offense to score 120 points if Golden State struggles to get too much above 100.

At these odds, a $10 bet still returns a profit of $9.43.

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

Chris’ NBA betting record: 40-24

Follow @ChrisWasselDFS 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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Trail Blazers-Pelicans odds: Portland favored vs. banged-up New Orleans

Previewing Tuesday’s Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans sports betting odds and lines, with NBA matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Portland Trail Blazers (5-9) and New Orleans Pelicans (4-9) get together at the Smoothie King Center at 8 p.m. ET in the Crescent City. We analyze the Trail Blazers-Pelicans 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.

Trail Blazers at Pelicans: Key injuries

Trail Blazers: PF Pau Gasol (foot) is out indefinitely.

Pelicans: PG Frank Jackson (neck), SF Brandon Ingram (knee) and PG Lonzo Ball (groin) are listed as questionable, while C Jahlil Okafor (ankle) is considered doubtful. SG Josh Hart (knee) and PF Derrick Favors (back) have also been ruled out.

Trail Blazers at Pelicans: 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 10:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Trail Blazers 114, Pelicans 103

Moneyline (ML)

The TRAIL BLAZERS (-154) were embarrassed against the Houston Rockets Monday night by a 132-108 score, but they’ll have a much better time of it against the struggling and banged-up Pelicans (+145).

New to sports betting? Every $1 wagered on a Portland win profits $0.65 if the Blazers prevail. (Ex: Bet $10 to win $6.50, $20 to win $13, $15.38 to win $10).

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Roll with the TRAIL BLAZERS (-3.5, –105), despite the fact they’re 1-4 against the spread in the past five road games and 2-7 ATS in the past nine in the second end of a back-to-back. They have reinforcements, as veteran Carmelo Anthony joins the squad.

The trends point to picking the Pelicans (+3.5, -106), but they’re just too banged up. They could be playing with a short bench, and that’s never a good thing.

Over/under (O/U)

The UNDER 230.5 (+105) is worth a look. Portland might have tired legs after just playing the night before in Houston, while New Orleans has some injury woes and they’ll be stretched thin, too. So their offense won’t exactly be on point, either. I love the Under in this one among all plays.

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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6 mind-blowing stats that prove Luka Doncic is an MVP favorite

The Luka Doncic Era has arrived.

To paraphrase from something LeBron James recently said to Luka Doncic (and also reiterated in an Instagram story from Monday night), the Dallas Mavericks star is one bad, bad man.

On Monday night in a win over the San Antonio Spurs, the second-year stud had a game for the ages with 42 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists and a 5-of-13 night from beyond the arc.

And now we get to throw his name into the early NBA MVP mix with the Dallas Mavericks right in the thick of the Western Conference contenders at 8-5.

Seriously. Have you seen his numbers this year? Let’s get into what he did on Monday night and what he’s done so far with some jaw-dropping stats.

1.

Doncic and LeBron are the only players with a 40-point triple-double pre-age 21. That’s SCARY.

2.

3.

The season is still young, but … whoa.

4.

This needs updating — he had triple double No. 14 on Monday.

5.

This might be my favorite stat of all. Doncic continues to destroy defenders both inside (without dunks!) AND with that step-back three that might be one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shots:

6.

The stat here? He was the third overall pick in 2018, behind Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley … which the Suns and Kings might regret.

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Paul George scores dagger to drop Thunder 90-88

The former Oklahoma City star hit a go-ahead-three with 25 seconds remaining to lift the Clippers over the Thunder on Monday night.

Paul George once again came up big when his team needed him the most. Unfortunately for the Thunder, that team is no longer Oklahoma City.

The former Thunder center drilled a go-ahead three-pointer with 25 seconds left in the game to lift the Clippers to a 90-88 victory over OKC late Monday night.

As has been the theme all season, the Thunder was in this one at the end.

A pair of ex-Clippers, Danilo Gallinari and Chris Paul, put Oklahoma City ahead with under a minute to play. Gallinari first made a 3 with 52.5 seconds remaining to tie the game at 86, then Paul hit two free-throws at the 31.5 mark to make it 88-86 OKC.

Then came the shot by George.

Paul told reporters, including Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, after the game he blamed himself for allowing George to take the game-winner.

“If I get through the screen that’s a tougher shot. And you know PG, he makes big shots like that, so that’s on me.”

Paul led the Thunder with 22 points. Three other players were in double-digits; Gallinari scored 14, Dennis Schroder came off the bench to add 12, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in 11.

Both Gallinari and Gilgeous-Alexander were welcomed back warmly and received a tribute video from the Clippers.

Oklahoma City doesn’t have any time to dwell on Monday’s loss. Their West Coast road trip continues Monday night as they return to the Staples Center on Tuesday to take on the Lakers.

Lakers’ Danny Green gets drug-tested by NBA after monster dunk vs. Hawks

Los Angeles Lakers sharpshooter, Danny Green, gets drug-tested by NBA after monster dunk vs. Atlanta Hawks.

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Los Angeles Lakers sharpshooter Danny Green doesn’t dunk too often. So when he does finish high above the rim, people take notice. On Sunday, Green offered a Dominque Wilkins impression during the Lakers 122-101 win over the Atlanta Hawks that brought the Staples Center crowd to their feet. Then, on Monday–after his first dunk of the season–the NBA issued Green a random drug test.

During the play that got the internet buzzing, the ball bounced around the perimeter for the Lakers before LeBron James collected it and attempted a 3-pointer near the top of the key. The shot missed long, and Green came crashing in from the right wing for a putback dunk that got his teammates fired up.

Maybe it was an entirely random occurrence–or maybe it was in response to the display of unusual athleticism–but after Green’s dunk made its way around the internet, the NBA issued him a random drug test. Green took to Twitter to joke about the coincidence after being notified of the test.

“Catch one dunk and get drug tested” Green tweeted. “Surprise, surprise.”

One Laker who was most likely not surprised about Green’s random drug test was Alex Caruso. In September, after photoshopped images of a jacked-up Caruso went viral on social media, the Lakers guard was similarly drug-tested by the NBA. So either both drug tests were entirely random, or all eyes are locked on the Lakers right now–even those in the league office.

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Patrick Patterson relishing opportunity with Clippers as Thunder visit L.A.

The former Thunder forward talked about the end of his time in OKC ahead of Monday’s matchup between the Clippers and Oklahoma City.

While you can’t go home again, you can always visit.

For former Oklahoma City Thunder forward Patrick Patterson, “home” for his last two seasons will actually be “away”, as the team he played for prior to his new club, the Los Angeles Clippers, visits Staples Center Monday evening.

Enthusiastic to be in his new home after seeing his role with the Thunder diminish and then effectively dry up, Patterson doesn’t look back with ire at how his last opportunity ended.

As his playing time began to shrink, and recent arrival Markieff Morris’ grow while the team’s fortunes grew increasingly worse, it would be easy to be resentful. But the Washington (D.C.) native doesn’t blame Morris, or the organization for how his tenure with OKC turned out.

“I don’t think it was just one thing,” Patterson said of the Thunder’s end-of-season collapse, and his eventual ejection from the rotation, which saw him sitting 24 of the team’s final 29 games, according to The Oklahoman’s Joe Mussatto.

“Coaching staff, not everyone on the same page from the heads up top to the players on the bottom, added the Kentucky product. “Effort on the players’ part. Focus, playing together, playing good solid defense with communication. We missed a lot of shots. We didn’t capitalize on opportunities.”

Relishing his next opportunity to play along recent champion Kawhi Leonard and All-Star forward Paul George, Patterson is embracing playing for the Clippers this season. “Finding a role again, finding a group of guys who push and believe in me and challenge me,” he explained as key elements of his new situation that most appealed.

“Just being happy, having fun. I think all that contributes to a new, clean slate and that’s what I have here right now.”

Patterson looks forward to seeing his new teammates in Los Angeles, and plans to catch up with them before the game. Don’t expect him to give his former franchise a light touch come gametime, however.

“It’ll be all smiles until the ball is thrown up in the air and that clock starts,” offered Patterson on how he’ll be approaching the game.

If history is any judge, the Thunder should take him at his word.

Thunder-Clippers odds: LA Clippers handily favored vs. OKC

Previewing Monday’s Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (5-7) visit the Los Angeles Clippers (8-5) Monday at Staples Center for a 10:30 p.m. ET tip-off. Both teams are coming off wins in their last games. We analyze the Thunder-Clippers 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.

Thunder at Clippers: Key injuries

Thunder

  • SG Hamidou Diallo (knee) day-to-day
  • SG Andre Roberson (knee) out

Clippers

  • PG Patrick Beverley (calf) questionable
  • SF Kawhi Leonard (knee) questionable
  • SG Landry Shamet (ankle) out

Thunder at Clippers: 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 11:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Clippers 120, Thunder 108

Moneyline (ML)

The Clippers are laying -500 odds despite the potential absences of Leonard and Beverley. SF Paul George has scored 70 total points over his first two games in L.A. and is plenty capable of shouldering the load without his fellow stars.

Los Angeles is 7-1 straight up at home while OKC is still looking for its first road win in its fifth try. The Clippers have outscored the opposition 114.5-108.0 on average. The Thunder have a neutral point differential and play to an average scored of 107.1-107.1. Both teams were victorious their last time out, with the Clips beating the Atlanta Hawks 150-101 at home and the Thunder topping the Philadelphia 76ers 127-119 in overtime.

The home team will win this one whether or not Leonard and/or Beverley are active, but the -500 odds are far too chalky. Monitor this line as it will improve if the two players are ruled out, but the spread is the better play.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Clippers to win would return a profit of $2.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Back the CLIPPERS to win by double digits and cover the spread of -8.5 with -129 odds. LA is 8-5 ATS and covers the number by an average of 3.2 points per game. OKC is 7-5 ATS and covers by an average of one point per game.

The Clippers are 7-1 ATS at home while the Thunder are just 2-2 on the road.

Over/Under (O/U)

The Thunder are 5-7 against the O/U while the Clippers are 5-8. Both teams fail to reach the projected total by an average of more than three points per game. Take the OVER 222.5 (-115). Both teams are rested and George will continue his hot start against his former team. We’ll likely need just one of Leonard or Beverley to be active in order to top this number with ease.

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: 30-29

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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Eric Paschall is one of the most complete rookies in the NBA

Warriors forward Eric Paschall is one of the best rookies in the NBA so far this season.

In an era where versatility is craved, Eric Paschall has one of the brightest futures among NBA rookies.

A do-it-all forward out of Villanova, Paschall has proven to be one of the most skilled first-year players in the league.

He scored a team-high 30 points on Sunday night during the Golden State Warriors’ 108-100 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. With the performance, Paschall is the only rookie to have multiple 30-point games this season. 

One of Paschall’s best attributes is his ability to score in multiple ways. He can bully opposing players in the paint. He can move without the ball and score. He can take opponents to the rim. He’s capable of making open jumpers.

Though he’s shooting 27.3% from the 3-point line this season, his shooting from the midrange has been where he’s thrived. According to Basketball Reference, Paschall is shooting 66.7% on field goals 10-16 feet from the hoop.

Paschall is third on the Warriors in points per game (16.7), and he’s also third in the league for points per game among rookies behind Ja Morant and Kendrick Nunn, according to NBA.com.

Along with his scoring, though, Paschall grabs rebounds well and can set up his teammates. Paschall ranks fifth among rookies in rebounds per game (4.8). Paschall is also averaging 1.3 assists per game.

Earlier this month, coach Steve Kerr compared Paschall’s defense to Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker’s, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.

Tucker is one of the best defenders in the league, being able to defend guards and wings on the perimeter. He can also defend bigger players around the rim.

With Paschall defending in multiple places, he contests 3.0 2-point shots a game, according to NBA.com. But his work defending on the perimeter is a bit more prevalent, as he contests 3.3 3-pointers a game. That number ranks fifth among rookies this season.

Through 13 games, Paschall has showed a quality all-around game. An early Rookie of the Year candidate, Paschall has an opportunity to be a key player in the Warriors’ future.

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