Toronto At Washington
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, March 31, 2013
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia
TV: 6 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), CSN Washington
PREDICTION: Wizards 99, Raptors 95

Oddsmakers currently have the Wizards listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Raptors, while the game’s total is sitting at 192.

The Wizards are coming off consecutive road losses to Oklahoma City and Orlando, but they’re riding their longest home winning streak since a 10-game run in 2006-07. Washington is likely to be short-handed, as rookie guard Bradley Beal (left ankle) and veteran forward Nene (right knee) are listed as questionable. It’s the third meeting this season with the road team having won the first two. The season series concludes Wednesday in Toronto.

Toronto doesn’t have much left to play for and the team is already looking toward the future. “We’ve got a lot of young players and we’re playing for next year,” star forward Rudy Gay told reporters. “These young guys need to know what it feels like to win.” They haven’t experienced much of that lately, as the Raptors haven’t won consecutive games since a five-game streak from Feb. 8-19. Rookie center Jonas Valanciunas has been among the bright spots, scoring in double figures in 10 of the past 11 games.

Last time out for Toronto, they were a 99-82 winner as they battled the Pistons on the road. The Raptors covered in the match as a 1.5-point underdog, while 181 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Team record: 27-45 SU, 34-37-1 ATS

The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 6 games when playing Washington

When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Detroit are 2-8
After playing Detroit are 3-7
After a win are 4-6

Washington has enjoyed a solid second half of the season, but the Wizards didn’t endear themselves to their coach with their showing in Friday’s 97-92 loss at Orlando. “I don’t think anybody had a good performance,” coach Randy Wittman told reporters. “Over and over again this year we just go through the motions against teams like this and it costs you.” That hasn’t been the case at home, where the Wizards have averaged 105 points and held opponents to 92.2 points per contest during their six-game winning streak.

Washington lost its last outing, a 97-92 result against the Magic on March 29. The Wizards failed to cover in that game as a 4-point favorite, while the 189 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 26-46 SU, 42-29-1 ATS
Current streak: lost 2 straight games.

is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games at home
is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto

When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Chicago are 6-4
After playing Orlando are 1-9
After a loss are 6-4

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Syracuse vs Marquette
When: 4:30 PM ET, Saturday, March 30, 2013
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia
TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS.
PREDICTION: Syracuse 70, Marquette 65

Oddsmakers currently have the Orange listed as 3-point favorites versus the Golden Eagles, while the game’s total is sitting at 126.

The conference that is disintegrating due to the realignment chaos is assured of having a team in the Final Four. Big East mates Syracuse and Marquette square off Saturday in Washington D.C. in the East Regional final, marking the first time since 2009 that teams from the same conference will compete for a Final Four berth. The fourth-seeded Orange dominated top-seeded Indiana on Thursday while third-seeded Marquette thrashed second-seeded Miami.

Sophomore point guard Michael Carter-Williams had a spectacular game against Indiana with a career-best 24 points to go with six rebounds and four steals. “This was the best he’s played all year,” Boeheim said. “He was tremendous. He was the difference in the game on offense, clearly.” Williams ranks fourth on the Orange at 12.1 points per game while averaging a team-best 7.5 assists. He has 104 steals, one of three players nationally with 100 or more. Junior forward C.J. Fair averages a team-high 14.4 points and also grabs a team-leading seven rebounds per game, while senior guard Brandon Triche (13.8) and senior forward James Southerland (13.4) also score in double digits.

Syracuse won its last outing, a 61-50 result against Indiana on March 28. They covered in that game as a 5-point underdog.

Team record: 29-9 SU, 18-15-1 ATS

The Golden Eagles are led by Blue, but feature a wealth of contributors who are capable of stepping up at any time. Junior forward Jamil Wilson had 16 points and eight rebounds against Miami, while Blue and junior reserve forward Davante Gardner contributed 14 points apiece. In fact, Gardner’s 11.4 average is second on the squad behind Blue’s 14.8. Wilson averages 9.9 points, senior guard Junior Cadougan averages 8.6 and senior wing Trent Lockett contributes 7.2 points and a team-best 5.1 rebounds. A blue-collar mentality sometimes leads to Marquette being overshadowed by more talented teams. “We want to keep being the hunters,” Blue said. “We don’t want to be the hunted.”

Last time out for Marquette, they were a 71-61 winner as they battled Miami on the road. They covered in the match as a 5.5-point underdog.

Team record: 26-8 SU, 15-15 ATS

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