Cleveland At New Orleans
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, March 31, 2013
Where: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: 6 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cleveland), Fox Sports New Orleans
PREDICTION: Hornets 90, Cavaliers 83

Oddsmakers currently have the Hornets listed as 6-point favorites versus the Cavaliers, while the game’s total is sitting at 193.

Cleveland is playing out the string as an undermanned squad with Irving and rookie guard Dion Waiters (knee) both sidelined. Coach Byron Scott denies his team has given up on the season despite the recent results and is hoping to see solid effort over the final 11 games. “This is a big-time test,” Scott said after the loss to the 76ers. “We’re going through some adversity as far as losing. It’s going to test the type of character we have in that locker room. We’ll see if guys go south or north or whatever.”

The Cavaliers were a 97-87 loser in their most recent outing at home against the 76ers. They failed to cover the 1.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (184) made winners of UNDER bettors.

Team record: 22-49 SU, 37-34 ATS
Current streak: lost 7 straight games.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 7 games when playing New Orleans
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 7 games when playing on the road against New Orleans
is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against New Orleans

When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Atlanta are 3-7
After playing Philadelphia are 5-5
After a loss are 2-8

New Orleans is 3-3 on a seven-game homestand that wraps up against the Cavaliers. Point guard Greivis Vasquez has missed two of the last three games with an ankle injury and his status for Cleveland will be determined shortly before tipoff. Rookie backup Brian Roberts has just eight total assists in the last two games after recording a career-best 18 while filling in for Vasquez three games ago. Davis has scored in double digits in 12 of the past 13 games.

New Orleans was a 108-89 loser in its last match at home against the Heat. They failed to cover the 7.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 197 sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

Team record: 25-48 SU, 36-37 ATS
Current streak: lost 2 straight games.

is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 7 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 7 games when playing at home against Cleveland

When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Golden State are 5-5
After playing Miami are 6-4
After a loss are 3-7

The post Cleveland vs. New Orleans Free Betting Pick & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

Irving made it through a full practice on Sunday and took part in the Cavs’ morning shootaround Monday. Barring any setbacks, Cavs coach Byron Scott said Irving will start against the Knicks. The Cavs rested Irving all last week, holding him out of games against Chicago, Toronto and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Cavs listed Irving as “probable” for the game with the Knicks, who were beaten at home on Sunday by the streaking Miami Heat, winners of 14 straight. Cleveland also listed rookie guard Dion Waiters and center Tyler Zeller as “questionable” because of illness.

The Cavs went 2-1 last week without Irving, who has missed 14 games in his second NBA season because of injuries. He banged knees in practice last month with teammate Omri Casspi and played in two road games despite soreness before the team sat him out. Irving missed 11 games with a broken index finger.

The NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2012, Irving is averaging 23.3 points, 5.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds.

He scored a career-high 41 points on Dec. 15 in a loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Irving played that game wearing a protective mask over a broken jaw.

The Knicks have lost 10 consecutive games in Cleveland.

The post Kyrie Irving back; missed 3 games appeared first on IdealCapper.

L.A. Clippers At Cleveland
When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, March 1, 2013
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), Fox Sports Ohio (Cleveland)
PREDICTION: Clippers 97, Cavaliers 93

Oddsmakers currently have the Clippers listed as 7-point favorites versus the Cavaliers, while the game’s total is sitting at 199.

Los Angeles got a brief scare when center DeAndre Jordan had his nose bloodied early in the third quarter and had to leave the game, but he returned briefly in the fourth after X-rays were negative. Forward Blake Griffin did the heavy lifting inside with his 24th double-double, scoring 18 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Shooting guard Chauncey Phillips is struggling to find his form. For the second straight game, he scored three points on 1-for-6 shooting.

The Clippers were a 99-91 winner in their most recent outing on the road against the Pacers. They covered the 1.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (190) made winners of UNDER bettors.

Los Angeles:
Team record: 42-18 SU, 34-26 ATS
Current streak: won 3 straight games.

LA Clippers are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games
LA Clippers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 6 games when playing Cleveland
LA Clippers are 1-11 SU in their last 12 games when playing Cleveland

When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing Oklahoma City are 5-5
After playing Indiana are 2-8
After a win are 6-4

Rookie guard Dion Waiters continues to carry the offense in Irving’s absence, averaging 24.7 points in the last three games. The Clippers got an early glimpse of his ability in a home loss to the Cavaliers during the first week of November, when Waiters hit seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 28 points. Veteran Shaun Livingston has performed admirably in starting the past two games in place of Irving, scoring 15 points in each and shooting a combined 10-of-18.

The Cavaliers were a 103-92 winner in their most recent outing at home against the Raptors. They covered the 5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (195) made winners of UNDER bettors.

Cleveland:
Team record: 20-38 SU, 31-27 ATS
Current streak: won 2 straight games.

is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
is 11-1 SU in their last 12 games when playing LA Clippers
is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games

When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing New York are 1-9
After playing Toronto are 2-8
After a win are 6-4

The post Los Angeles Clippers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Free Betting Pick & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.