Tag: Zach LaVine

Josh Richardson, Matisse Thybulle give scouting report on Zach LaVine

The Philadelphia 76ers give insight on how to defend Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine.

The Philadelphia 76ers did a great job of locking up Brooklyn Nets stars Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie on Wednesday night and now they have to turn their attention to the Chicago Bulls and their star: Zach LaVine.

The Bulls shooting guard is having a breakout season averaging 24.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 40% from deep in his sixth season in the league. Philadelphia will have plenty of options to throw against LaVine, like Josh Richardson for example who has a lot of respect for the scorer out of UCLA.

“He’s high volume, but he’s efficient,” said Richardson. “He’s shooting like 40 from 3 on 8 threes a game and I feel like, over his career, he’s learned how to really be able to carry that offense. You see games where he goes like 18 (points) in a row streaks and he’s really turned himself into a great scorer.”

It is because of that 3-point shooting combined with the overall athleticism that has allowed him to win the slam dunk contest twice in his career that has allowed him to become a more efficient scorer. It’s hard to have to play up against a guy like that who can blow by you so quickly.

“It makes it tough,” Richardson added. “He has a really quick first step so if you get off-balanced or anything, he can go by you and make a highlight. It’s just one of those things where you’ve got to stay with it, be confident in your defense, and just know he’s going to make it tougher.”

Another option is Matisse Thybulle who actually defended LaVine in high school when the two were rivals in the Seattle area and Thybulle knew what he was getting himself into as a freshman. Thybulle was at Skyline High School and LaVine attended Bothell.

“It was intimidating,” he said. “I was going up against Zach LaVine who was like one of the best players in the state and the first time I guarded him was my first varsity game as a freshman in high school. Like this is Zach LaVine dunking on people, I was scared, but I feel like I stepped up to the challenge.”

He did a solid job against him apparently as Lorenzo Romar, who was the coach at the University of Washington at the time, liked what he saw from Thybulle to recruit him to the Huskies.

“I ended up going to University of Washington like everyone knows, but that was the first time coach Romar, who was the coach at the time, ever saw me,” he added. “I must have done something good because he kept his eye on me.”

Richardson and Thybulle will have another opportunity against the Bulls scorer on Friday when the two teams square off in Philadelphia. [lawrence-related id=23634,23626,23611]

Report: Dwight Howard is participating in the 2020 dunk contest

With Dwight Howard back in the dunk contest, perhaps the event will regain some of its energy.

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard has an opportunity to steal the show at this season’s All-Star Saturday night during All-Star weekend.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Howard will be in the Slam Dunk Contest, one of the weekend’s most storied events. Howard was a staple in the dunk contest from 2007-2009, throwing down jams in each of those three seasons.

Howard won the dunk contest in 2008, slamming his iconic “Superman” jam. Howard’s charisma helped make the dunk contest must-watch television in the late 2000s.

During that time period, Howard was also one of the game’s biggest stars. As one of the best centers of his era, Howard was the league’s leading rebounder for the 2007-08 season. He averaged 20.7 points during that same season.

The dunk contest has usually had a lively aura, but in the past few seasons that energy hasn’t been present. The most recent memorable dunk contest was in 2016, when Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon battled in what’s arguably one of the best dunk contests ever.

With Howard returning to the dunk contest, perhaps one of the league’s most prized events can regain some of its mystique.

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Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls odds, picks and best bets

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

The Boston Celtics (24-8) visit the Windy City to play the Chicago Bulls (13-22) at United Center for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze Celtics-Bulls 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.

Celtics at Bulls: Key injuries

Celtics

  • C Enes Kanter (face) questionable
  • SG Jaylen Brown (illness) questionable
  • C Robert Williams III (hip) out
  • PG Kemba Walker (flu) questionable
  • C Vincent Poirier (finger) out

Bulls

  • C Wendell Carter (ankle) probable
  • PG Ryan Arcidiacono (elbow) probable
  • SF Otto Porter Jr. (foot) out
  • SG Zach LaVine (ankle) probable
  • SG Max Strus (knee) out

Celtics at Bulls: 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 12 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Celtics 105, Bulls 97

Moneyline (ML)

We have a rare opportunity to back a moneyline favorite in a regular-season NBA game! Boston has won and covered the spread in eight of its last 10 meetings, including six double-digit victories. The Celtics also crush teams below .500 (17-2 record).

Take the CELTICS (-121) because Boston has dominated Chicago of late.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Boston has the second-best against the spread record in the NBA (19-11-2), and are even stronger ATS on the road (10-5-1). On the other side, the Bulls really struggle as home favorites (3-7 record) with a minus-12.1 margin of victory and they don’t have the talent on the roster to overcome the loss of their defensive anchor, in Carter, should he miss Saturday’s game.

Bet CELTICS (-2.5, +105).

Over/Under (O/U)

Bet UNDER 207.5 (+105).

Expect the Celtics defense to stymie the Bulls offense. Boston is ranked first in opponents’ points per game (103.7) and third in defensive rating (104.2), while the Bulls are ranked 24th in PPG (105.7) and 29th in offensive rating (104.5). Also, the Bulls can play some defense—ranked sixth in defensive rating (105.6), fourth in opponents’ 3-point percentage (.333) and their opponents have the highest turnover percentage in the NBA (16.1%).

Furthermore, monitor the injury report because if Walker and Kanter don’t suit up there may be a lull in the Celtics offense. The combined Over/Under record of these teams is 29-38. Don’t be scared of the low total, be encouraged.

New to sports betting? Bet $100 on the Under to earn a profit of $105.

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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Chris Paul: The league’s best in the clutch this season

Paul hit the go-ahead bucket against the Mavs with 40.6 seconds left. He has scored 91 points in clutch time, most in the NBA this season.

Chris Paul did it again on Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks.

He took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 of his 17 points in the final frame, including the go-ahead jumper with just 40.6 seconds remaining on the clock.

It’s become such a common occurrence for Oklahoma City this season that Paul might want to consider changing his nickname (one of the many) from CP3 to CP4.

Regardless of what name Paul ultimately goes by, there’s definitely one word to describe him: clutch.

For those unfamiliar with the definition of clutch (yes, there is such a thing), it’s commonly considered as the last five minutes of a game (regulation or overtime) in which the point differential is 5 or less. And yes, there are advanced metrics to keep track of how players perform in the clutch.

Pull up those metrics, and Paul is far and away the most productive player in the league during those last five minutes.

In fairness, that number is heavily weighted. Of the 33 games the Thunder have played this season, 25 have fallen into the category of clutch. Oklahoma City is 15-10 in those contests, a record reflective of how good Paul has been in those late-game situations.

As noted by Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman, Paul has scored 91 points in the clutch this year – the next closest is Zach LaVine at 78. Even if you “level the playing field” and just go by points per game in the clutch, Paul still falls within the top ten, coming at 3.6.

He told The Oklahoman after last Friday’s 104-102 overtime victory in Charlotte that he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I love it man,” Paul said last week after the Thunder’s 104-102 overtime win. “And that’s why it’s fun to have a team like this. Different guys get going. And that’s the thing that gets your blood going is fourth quarter, them situations.”

Paul echoed those sentiments following the win over the Mavericks, telling Nick Gallo, “there ain’t nothing like winning time.”

Paul and the Thunder are back in action on Thursday in San Antonio.

Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards odds, picks and best bets

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.

Prediction

Bulls 117, Wizards 111

Moneyline (ML)

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.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

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.

Over/Under (O/U)

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.

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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Oklahoma City ties team record for biggest comeback in win over Bulls

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.

But it was Paul’s fourth three of the quarter that gave OKC a 101-100 lead with 4:10 to play. The Thunder would not trail the rest of the way.

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.

Zach LaVine led all scorers with 39.

The Warriors find a way to close out, beat Bulls 104-90 for home win

Draymond Green was Golden State’s missing link when it comes to closing out games. The Warriors get their fourth win of the season, behind Omari Spellman, Alec Burks and Eric Paschall.

It seemed like a similar script to the last couple of games for the Golden State Warriors, wire-to-wire battle behind a gritty performance from their understaffed lineup. Although, instead of letting the game slip away in the final minutes, they closed out against the Chicago Bulls for a 104-90 win.

Draymond Green

The Warriors dropped their previous two games by a combined seven total points with the common factor being no Draymond Green, tonight that changed with the captain returning from his sore heel injury.

Green only tallied seven points and eight assists, but his value against the Bulls won’t show up in the stat sheet. Green controlled the pace of the game for Golden State. Anytime the Bulls tried to rally, the former Defensive Player of the Year showed up. Green slowed the ball down when the young players looked rattled, and even hit a timely three-pointer when the team needed a bucket.

Eric Paschall

Eric Paschall continued on his notable rookie campaign leading Golden State, leading them in scoring with 25-points, his sixth 20-plus scoring game on the season. Paschall has turned into the Warriors go-to scoring option while D’Angelo Russell is injured.

Omari Spellman

Over the past handful of games, Omari Spellman has impressed with his shooting, but against the Bulls, the second-year pro banged around inside, grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds and adding 13 points. Spellman punched his first double-double as a Warrior.

Alec Burks

Lastly, Alec Burks turned in another solid night for the Warriors, with a near triple-double performance. The veteran poured in 23 points, with 10 rebounds and seven assists. Burks is slowly turning himself into a viable bench piece for next season or an attractive trade chip for the Warriors.

It was a genuine full-squad effort for Golden State, as five different players scored in double-digits on 47.5 percent shooting. The Warriors will now head on a five-game road trip after enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday.

Zach LaVine’s insane 3-pointer (his 13th!) ends frantic Bulls comeback

This comes after the Bulls coach benched and openly criticized Zach LaVine.

Zach LaVine faced tremendous scrutiny heading into the Chicago Bulls’ matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. Bulls coach Jim Boylen benched LaVine on Friday for making “egregious” defensive errors on Friday. LaVine’s performance on Saturday changed the conversation.

He scored a franchise-record 13 3-pointers, with the 13th coming at the buzzer for the win. The Hornets needed to in bound the ball with seven seconds left. That’s when Bulls guard Ryan Arcidiacono knocked the ball free from Hornets guard Devonte’ Graham under the hoop, and LaVine grabbed it off the court. He then frantically ran to the 3-point line to set up a fading shot. The Bulls won, 126-125. LaVine could  have scored a field goal to tie it — but he boldly took a challenging shot to take the lead.

LaVine had 49 points on the night while shooting 17 of 28 from the field and 13 of 17 from the 3-point line. That final 3-point play left the folks in Charlotte in a bad place. Their record falls to 6-11.

Here’s the call from the Hornets’ broadcast.

It was an impressive and desperate finish for LaVine and the Bulls, who have the same record as Charlotte at 6-11. Maybe Boylen should show LaVine some tough love more often.

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