Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic (-1.5, 194.5)
Rough debut
Recently-acquired Antawn Jamison got off to an utterly dismal start with the Cavaliers Friday night. In his debut with the Eastern Conference’s top team (a surprising 110-93 loss at Charlotte), the former Washington Wizard scored a mere two points and missed all 12 of his field-goal attempts in 26 minutes.
“I rushed a couple shots and I had a few blocked,” Jamison explained. “I couldn't get into a rhythm. It was one of those nights that will never happen again, I can promise you that.”
Addition has been subtraction for the Cavs (43-13, 28-28 ATS) over the past two games. Mo Williams returned from a shoulder injury after the All-Star break and Cleveland promptly lost its first game in 14 outings, suffering a 118-116 home overtime loss to Denver. Williams is averaging 10 points in 22 minutes of play for two games since returning.
Defence has also been an issue, as the Cavs have allowed 100 points in four of their last five games.
“They did what they wanted to do offensively,” Cleveland coach Mike Brown said of the Bobcats. “That is not how we play. We've been doing that lately, and that is the disappointing thing and embarrassing to play that defence. That is something we have to get straight.”
Full Nelson
Oft-injured Magic point guard Jameer Nelson returned from arthroscopic knee surgery on December 21 and now he is starting to play like he is 100 percent. Nelson has scored in double figures in six of his last seven outings and his assist-to-turnover ratio for the month of February is 2.8 to 1.
Although Orlando (37-19, 28-28 ATS) lost to the Mavericks 95-85 at home Friday night, Nelson contributed 16 points on 8-for-15 shooting to go along with six assists.
Armed with a clean bill of health, Nelson talked afterward about his new mentality. “I attack the basket to go to score, and if they come, I throw to the big fella (Dwight Howard).”
Prior engagements
The Cavs earned nine-point victories in each of the previous two meetings between the teams this season. On November 11, the visiting Cavs rolled to a 102-93 victory. Earlier this month, Cleveland hosted the Magic and prevailed 115-106. In that February 11 encounter, the Cavs had 28 assists to Orlando’s 18 and they turned the ball over just six times.
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The Cavs are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games away from home. They are 1-4 ATS in their last five outings overall.
The Magic are 1-3 ATS in their last four home dates.
Cleveland (28-28 O/U) has not been a strong over/under play this season, but Orlando (24-32 O/U) has been a stellar under play. The under is 7-3 in the Magic’s last 10 games overall and 15-6 in their last 21 overall.
Boston Celtics at Denver Nuggets (-3.5, 197.5)
Nate the great
Boston (35-18, 21-32 ATS) beat the NBA trade deadline Thursday and landed three-time Slam Dunk champion Nate Robinson from the New York Knicks in a deal that saw guard Eddie House leave town.
“It’s a heartbreak,” Kevin Garnett said of losing House, but it’s a heartbreak he is willing to endure. “Now I have a chance to create a similar relationship with Nate. It’s good to get that energy, instant offence. When I think of Nate I think of energy and how he plays the game with his heart and passion, and I look forward to playing with him.”
Robinson (13.2 ppg, 3.7 apg) is expected to make his debut with the Celtics Tuesday, not Sunday, in part because he is dealing with the flu. While that won’t help Boston against the Nuggets, the trade deadline’s passing is an immediate benefit in that Ray Allen no longer has to worry about being shipped away.
In two games since the trade deadline, Allen (16.3 ppg) has poured in 24 and 21 points. In a 96-76 road rout of Portland on Friday night, Allen sank 9-of-14 field goals and also added five assists.
Selfish ball
Although the Nuggets (36-19, 27-28 ATS) are still atop the Northwest Division, they have not won back-to-back games since February 1 and they will be trying to bounce back from a dreadful 107-97 loss at Washington Friday night.
No Denver player had more than three assists against the Wizards and the team as a whole dished out 12. The Wizards, by contrast, shared the ball to the tune of 22 assists and also out-rebounded the Nuggets 47-40.
“If we don't pass it, we're not a great team,” coach George Karl explained. “We have a selfish disposition at times. You can't beat anybody with 12 assists. It's just a joke. We should be much more mature and understanding; if that's the way we're going to try to beat people, we're going to have nights like tonight.”
Injury report
Adding insult to injury, or the other way around, is a back injury to Chris Andersen, who missed his first game of the season Friday night. Andersen was 50-50 to play as of Friday afternoon and the looming game against Boston might have been the deciding factor in Denver’s decision to rest him.
“I think he knows we need him against Boston,” Karl noted.
Aside from that, both teams are remarkably healthy. Boston is looking the best it has been all year in the injury department, as Garnett, who missed a total of 12 games in December and January due to a knee problem, is starting to heat up. Garnett tallied 13 points and eight rebounds in a 1-point road win over the Lakers Thursday, 16 points and seven boards in Friday’s victory over Portland.
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The Celtics are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven games, having failed to cover the spread in five straight games prior to their recent two-game streak.
The Nuggets have not been stellar ATS of late. They have covered the spread in back-to-back games just once since December 7, and they are 1-3 ATS in their last four home dates.
In terms of the over/under, Boston (23-30 O/U) has been a solid under play this season. Denver (26-29 O/U) has not been a particularly strong over/under play, although the team also leans slightly toward the under. It should be noted that the under is 6-0 in the Celtics last six outings.