Minnesota Timberwolves at Detroit Pistons

Current Line: Detroit -5.5

Current O/U Line: 196

The Minnesota Timberwolves (25-38 SU, 30-33 ATS) look to snap their 11 game losing streak tonight in which they have gone just 3-8 ATS in those eleven games.

The Timberwolves offense has taken a hit since the loss of Kevin Love, Luke Ridnour and Ricky Rubio. Minnesota is averaging just 94.2 points per game the last five games in which they are shooting 42.7% from the field and 30.1% from beyond the arc. Three of the last four games Minnesota have been held to 88 points or less.

With the loss of three starters we have gotten to see some of the other talent the Timberwolves have. Jose Barea (10.9 PPG) has looked real good as of late averaging 17.6 points per game with 10.6 assists per  game the last five games. Anthony Randolph (6.9 PPG) was on a tear for three games scoring 22,16 and 28 points before having back to back games of just six and four points now.

With the offense struggling as of late the defense has not looked much better for Minnesota. The Timberwolves are allowing 105 points per game the last five games with opponents shooting 44.9% from the field and 38.3% from beyond the arc against them.

The Detroit Pistons (23-39 SU, 30-31-1 ATS) look to rebound from last night’s horrific showing in which they were blown out by the Hawks by 32 points.

Detroit offense looked lost last night scoring just 84 points against a very good Atlanta defense. The Pistons have a good chance to wake the offense up against a Minnesota defense that is struggling. Detroit is averaging 100 points per game the last five games while shooting 46.2% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc.

The Pistons five starters last night combined for just 30 points total. Greg Monroe (15.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG) who led all starters with 17 points in last night’s contests has been the strength of this team as oif late with three double-doubles the last five games. Rookie Brandon Knight (12.9 PPG) has been on fire scoring twenty or more points in three of the last five games.

The Pistons defense is allowing 98.2 points per game the last five games in which opponents are shooting 44.8% from the field and 33.7% from beyond the arc against them. Four of the last six opponents for Detroit have scored 100 or more points against them.

Both of these teams have not shot at the playoffs. We are seeing both teams giving some of their younger talent some playing time to see what they have in them. We are seeing a lot of these guys in the league who are getting playing time now at the end of the season making the most of it. Minnesota has been horrible and that should continue tonight on the road against a Pistons team.

Prediction:

Minnesota 96 Detroit 106

Houston Rockets at New Orleans Hornets

Current Line: Houston -3

Current O/U Line: 187

The Houston Rockets (32-30 SU, 31-31 ATS) enter tonight’s contest looking to snap a five game losing streak in which they playoff hopes for the Rockets continue to fade.

Houston’s offense has not been the problem for this team during this five games losing streak. The Rockets are averaging 98.8 points per game the last five games in which they are shooting 41.6% from the field and 31.1% from beyond the arc.

Point Guard Goran Dragic (11.5 PPG) continues to be the focal point of this offense in which he has scored 20 or more points in seven of the last ten games. Courtney Lee (11.1 PPG) is starting to improve scoring 16 and 18 points the last two games after three games of scoring 9 or less points.

The weakness to this Houston team has been the defense that they are playing right now. The Rockets are allowing 107.6 points per game the last five games in which opponents are shooting 49.9% from the field and 41.3% from beyond the arc. Houston has allowed 100 or more points in the last five games.

The New Orleans Hornets (19-43 SU, 33-29 ATS) may be out of the playoff picture but this team continues to fight for wins. The Hornets have won four of their last five while going 6-1 ATS their last seven games.

The Hornets have not been winning games with a high powered offense. The last five games New Orleans is averaging 91 points per game while shooting 47% from the field and 30.2% from beyond the arc.

New Orleans is winning game with five guys who are out that all saw significant starter minutes this season. Jason Smith (10.1 PPG) has been solid since coming into the lineup scoring 10 or more in six of the last 10 games. Marco Belinelli (11.8 PPG) and Greivis Vasquez (8.9 PPG) have been the other two strengths to this team.

New Orleans strength has been the defense that they are playing right now. The hornets are allowing 85.2 points per game the last five games with opponents shooting 41.3% from the field and 25.8% from beyond the arc against them. Three of the last four opponents for the Hornets have been held to 85 or less points.

Houston’s mind set has just fallen apart. They continue to lose games and fall farther and farther down the ladder for the opportunity of a playoff spot. New Orleans is not giving up and should be able to compete with this Houston team tonight and cause some problems for a struggling Rockets team.

Prediction:

Houston 88 New Orleans 98

Oakland A’s at LA Angels

Current ML: Angels -205

Current RL: Angels -1.5 +105

Current O/U: 7

The Oakland A’s will finish their four game stand in LA with lefty Tom Milone (1-1 SU, 2.57 ERA) facing off against the Angels stud lefty, newcomer C.J. Wilson (2-0 SU, 1.38 ERA) who has been the lone bright spot to this Angels pitching staff this season.

Tom Milone looked real good to open the season going eight innings in his first start allowing zero runs and just three hits at home against Kansas City. Oakland was hoping that Milone would have followed up that nice first outing with his second contest but he did get touched up a bit in his second contest allowing four runs on four hits in just six innings against Seattle.

C.J. Wilson will get his third start in an Angels uniform tonight against an Oakland team that he is 3-0 against the last three meetings in which he has allowed three runs in 20 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts. This season Wilson has pitched 13 innings thus far allowing just two earned runs with nine hits allowed and seven strikeouts. This will be the first outing for Wilson in LA with his new team in which he should see plenty of support from his new home town team’s fans.

Wilson may be in a new uniform but we are seeing him continuing to pitch the way he has the past few seasons in which he was able to help the Rangers reach the World Series in back to back seasons. Wilson has pitched against this Oakland lineup plenty of times and has dominated as of late I do not see that changing tonight. I think he will be pumped up to pitch in front of his new home town teams fans. Milone though the Seattle lineup was tough allowing four runs it could get worse tonight when he has to face Pujols, Hunter, Wells, Aybar and the rest of the Angels  lineup.

Prediction:

Oakland 2 Angels 5