PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Thursday TAKEDOWN >> PERFECT 2-0 NBA Wednesday!
(NBA) Sacramento vs. Miami,
Point Spread: 10.50 | -110.00 Sacramento (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 10.50 | -110.00 Sacramento (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Miami Heat dropped three of five on their recently completed road trip but return home for two games against sub-.500 teams, looking to get back on the winning track. Up first for the 27-20 Heat will be the 14-33 Sacramento Kings, who are tied with the Hawks and Magic for the NBA's worst record. however, the Kings snapped an eight-game slide with a 105-99 win at Orlando on Tuesday
Sacramento: The Kings are committed to using younger players but gave veteran Garrett Temple plenty of minutes on Tuesday and he rewarded the team with a career-high 34 points (he's averaging just 8.3 PPG on the season). Temple is one of several veterans, along with Zach Randolph (14.4 & 6.8), George Hill (10.3), Vince Carter (4.6) and Kosta Koufos (5.7 & 5.8), who will sit out on occasion to allow younger players to absorb more minutes. Randolph, Hill and Koufos did not play on Monday but Temple scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, including all 17 during Sacramento's game-changing 17-6 run. Willie Cauley-Stein (12.5 & 6.8) added 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocks while going 9-for-18 from the floor after a combined 7-for-30 showing in his previous two contests.The Kings average just 98.0 PPG, which is least in the NBA.
Miami: The Heat were without three key guards in Monday 99-90 loss to the Rockets, as Dion Waiters was out with an ankle issue, Goran Dragic with a knee problem and Tyler Johnson out with an ankle injury. However, the Heat were still able to hold Houston under 100 points. Waiters () underwent surgery on his left ankle Monday and will sit out the rest of the season. PG Dragic missed the last two games but was available in an emergency and could be ready by Thursday. He leads the team in scoring (17.3) and assists (4.9). Hassan Whiteside leads the team in rebounds (11.8) and blocks (1.9), while ranking second in scoring (14.7). Miami has almost as much trouble scoring points as Sacramento, averaging only 100.9 PPG (28th of 30 teams).
The pick: Sure, Miami has won the last six and 16 of 17 in the all-time series but the Heat score less (101.0 PPG) than they allow at home (102.8 PPG). That's why the team checks in with a 6-13-2 ATS mark at home. No way I'll lay this many points with a team like that. Make the Kings a 10* play.
Sacramento: The Kings are committed to using younger players but gave veteran Garrett Temple plenty of minutes on Tuesday and he rewarded the team with a career-high 34 points (he's averaging just 8.3 PPG on the season). Temple is one of several veterans, along with Zach Randolph (14.4 & 6.8), George Hill (10.3), Vince Carter (4.6) and Kosta Koufos (5.7 & 5.8), who will sit out on occasion to allow younger players to absorb more minutes. Randolph, Hill and Koufos did not play on Monday but Temple scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, including all 17 during Sacramento's game-changing 17-6 run. Willie Cauley-Stein (12.5 & 6.8) added 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocks while going 9-for-18 from the floor after a combined 7-for-30 showing in his previous two contests.The Kings average just 98.0 PPG, which is least in the NBA.
Miami: The Heat were without three key guards in Monday 99-90 loss to the Rockets, as Dion Waiters was out with an ankle issue, Goran Dragic with a knee problem and Tyler Johnson out with an ankle injury. However, the Heat were still able to hold Houston under 100 points. Waiters () underwent surgery on his left ankle Monday and will sit out the rest of the season. PG Dragic missed the last two games but was available in an emergency and could be ready by Thursday. He leads the team in scoring (17.3) and assists (4.9). Hassan Whiteside leads the team in rebounds (11.8) and blocks (1.9), while ranking second in scoring (14.7). Miami has almost as much trouble scoring points as Sacramento, averaging only 100.9 PPG (28th of 30 teams).
The pick: Sure, Miami has won the last six and 16 of 17 in the all-time series but the Heat score less (101.0 PPG) than they allow at home (102.8 PPG). That's why the team checks in with a 6-13-2 ATS mark at home. No way I'll lay this many points with a team like that. Make the Kings a 10* play.
