PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* SLAM DUNK >> 91-51-5 L147 NBA Sides! 27-12-1 L40!
(NBA) San Antonio vs. Dallas,
Point Spread: 6.50 | -105.00 San Antonio (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 6.50 | -105.00 San Antonio (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 60-18 San Antonio Spurs are now locked into the West's No. 2 seed and will sit most of their starters when they visit the 32-46 Dallas Mavericks on Friday. All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard, center Pau Gasol and power forward LaMarcus Aldridge will rest while others will sit out due to nagging injuries. The Mavericks were eliminated from postseason contention awhile back and have lost six of their last seven games after closing a five-game trip with setbacks at Sacramento and the LA Clippers. Dallas is missing SG Seth Curry, who sat out the last three games with a shoulder injury and remains day-to-day.
San Antonio: The Spurs will likely face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs and are beginning to "rest up" for the playoffs. San Antonio is also expected to sit shooting guards Manu Ginobili (quad) and Danny Green (quad), along with point guard Dejounte Murray (groin) on Friday.
Dallas: Future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki finds himself overseeing a young roster as his career winds down, and he is trying to impart some wisdom to his younger teammates. "Obviously, when you start a season 3-17 or 4-17, you're behind the 8-ball," Dirk Nowitzki said. "So there's always a possibility in the back of your mind, but we kept fighting. You got to give the boys credit. With how many injuries we had this year, and still we try to fight and make runs. Dallas experienced an uptick after a horrid start, but now it is all about preparing for next season and picking up more lottery ping-pong balls.
The pick: The Spurs have often played very well in games like this (when significant players have been kept on the bench) plus the Mavs have no reason to win anymore. The Mavericks snapped a seven-game losing streak in the overall series with a 105-101 comeback win in January, which ended a Spurs' run of 117 straight wins at home when leading by least 10 points at the half. Dallas had lost 12 in a row in San Antonio going back to 2010. Despite the loss, San Antonio has still won 21 of the last 26 regular-season matchups, including three straight and seven of the last nine in Dallas. Even with the "second team" playing, make the Spurs a 10* play.
San Antonio: The Spurs will likely face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs and are beginning to "rest up" for the playoffs. San Antonio is also expected to sit shooting guards Manu Ginobili (quad) and Danny Green (quad), along with point guard Dejounte Murray (groin) on Friday.
Dallas: Future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki finds himself overseeing a young roster as his career winds down, and he is trying to impart some wisdom to his younger teammates. "Obviously, when you start a season 3-17 or 4-17, you're behind the 8-ball," Dirk Nowitzki said. "So there's always a possibility in the back of your mind, but we kept fighting. You got to give the boys credit. With how many injuries we had this year, and still we try to fight and make runs. Dallas experienced an uptick after a horrid start, but now it is all about preparing for next season and picking up more lottery ping-pong balls.
The pick: The Spurs have often played very well in games like this (when significant players have been kept on the bench) plus the Mavs have no reason to win anymore. The Mavericks snapped a seven-game losing streak in the overall series with a 105-101 comeback win in January, which ended a Spurs' run of 117 straight wins at home when leading by least 10 points at the half. Dallas had lost 12 in a row in San Antonio going back to 2010. Despite the loss, San Antonio has still won 21 of the last 26 regular-season matchups, including three straight and seven of the last nine in Dallas. Even with the "second team" playing, make the Spurs a 10* play.
