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NBA DAILY: 04/05/07 THU - Previews/Trends/Poll
HEAT@CAVALIERS
GAME: Miami Heat (40-34) at Cleveland Cavaliers (45-30)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, April 05 - 7:00 PM EST
Knowing Wade is on his way back, the Heat can wrap up a playoff spot on Thursday as their regular-season series with James and the Cavaliers comes to an end.This is the second straight meeting which has been missing Wade, sidelined since Feb. 21 due to a dislocated shoulder. Miami has done better than just stay afloat while Wade has been out, going 14-7 to get into the thick of the Southeast Division title race.About a month removed from having their playoff hopes in serious doubt, particularly with the injury to Wade, the Heat will wrap up their spot in the postseason with a victory in this contest. They are looking for a fourth playoff berth in as many seasons since Wade came into the league.Just as Miami has, Cleveland has done well without its fourth-year superstar in the lineup this season. The team had gone 3-0 when James was out, but that was before an achy right knee kept him sidelined Sunday as the Cavaliers lost to the worst team in the East, 98-96 to Boston.Despite not being back at full strength, James returned Tuesday to score 31 points and grab 12 rebounds in a 101-88 victory over Minnesota. Even with Wade sitting out, James could not lead Cleveland to victory in the last matchup of these teams as his 29 points weren't enough in an 86-81 defeat at Miami on Feb. 25. That victory gave the Heat a 2-1 lead in the season series, but they've lost their last three games at Cleveland.Miami did get healthier on Tuesday with the return of Jason Kapono in a 92-89 victory over Toronto. The 3-point champion at All-Star weekend, Kapono had seven points and made one 3-pointer after missing four weeks with a sprained ankle. While the Heat have alternated wins and losses in their last six games, the Cavaliers have done so in their last eight.
Heat are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Cavaliers are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Cavaliers are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 6-1 in Heat last 7 road games.
Under is 5-1 in Heat last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 5-1 in Heat last 6 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Under is 5-1 in Heat last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Cavaliers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. win.
Cavaliers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
Heat are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Cleveland.
Heat are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
SUNS@SPURS
GAME: Phoenix Suns (56-18) at San Antonio Spurs (53-21)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, April 05 - 9:30 PM EST
The Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs could be headed for a second-round meeting in the playoffs. This game may be critical in determining which team has the home-court advantage for that potential matchup as the Suns and Spurs close their regular-season series on Thursday night. The Suns lead the Spurs by three games in the race for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Both teams wrapped up playoff berths a while ago, but this could be a possible conference semifinal preview if both were to advance past the first round, and home-court advantage could be crucial.The winner of this game will win the season series, which would be the tiebreaker if the teams end the regular season tied. They have split two meetings this season, with each team winning at home.The Spurs, though, have won 10 of 13 overall between the teams and six straight at home. San Antonio is 11-1 at the AT&T Center against Phoenix since the start of the 2000-01 season.Those totals don't include two playoff victories by the Spurs this decade, including a 4-1 series win in the 2005 conference finals. Phoenix had to fend off a rally by Memphis, the NBA's worst team, on Tuesday night before coming away with a 116-111 victory. The Suns were up by 14 points in the third quarter before Memphis made it close at the end as Phoenix got off to an unimpressive start on its four-game road trip. Phoenix extended its winning streak to three games and won for the first time in four road contests. The Suns figure to get even more of a test from San Antonio, which has won 20 of its past 23 games to pull closer to the second seed.The Spurs began a five-game homestand with a 110-91 win over Seattle on Tuesday night, rebounding from a 100-99 loss to Indiana on Sunday that snapped their six-game winning streak. San Antonio led by as many as 26 points while Bruce Bowen tied his career high with six 3-pointers and finished with 18 points. The Spurs have won five straight and 12 of 13 at home.
Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog.
Suns are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 vs. NBA Southwest.
Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog.
Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog of 0.5-4.5.
Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.
Over is 4-0 in Suns last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Suns last 4 overall.
Over is 4-0 in Suns last 4 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 4-1 in Suns last 5 games following a S.U. win.
Over is 4-1 in Suns last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 4-1 in Suns last 5 road games.
Spurs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Spurs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
Spurs are 2-12 ATS in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Spurs are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.
Jedini
Last thirteen days 30-35-1 (-47.5 Units) = 46.2%
Feb/Mar 102-83-4 (+13 Units) = 55.1%
Jan/Feb 68-45-2 (+27 Units) = 60.2%
Last edited by Jedini; 04-05-07 at 05:51 PM.
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