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00:00Welcome back to Newswire here on SportsGrid.
00:02We've got Dexter Henry with us to break down the latest in the NBA.
00:05Good thing that the NBA is now back and playing with, of course, some college hoops.
00:10And then soon enough, we're going to have the grand finale to some of the Olympics and then the tournament.
00:16Did I forget anything?
00:17Oh, that's right.
00:17Major League Baseball opening day.
00:19March will be a fun and golf, too.
00:21Right, Dexter?
00:22Yeah, March is going to be fun.
00:24Yeah, March is going to be fun, Craig.
00:26A lot of stuff going on in sports.
00:27So everybody should be excited.
00:29Yeah, definitely so.
00:31All right, so let's take a look at the NBA as we begin the weekend of games again.
00:35And man, this is something that I didn't want to see happen again, which is discussions about Joel Embiid being
00:41hurt yet again.
00:42Another leg injury maybe for him.
00:44We'll see.
00:44Tonight, the Hawks play the 76ers with Philly minus one and a half at home.
00:48Total 237 and a half.
00:50This line certainly indicates no Embiid in this game this evening.
00:53Do you have a position here?
00:55And what do you make of this latest injury discussion with Embiid, who just has not been able to escape
01:00this for about three years?
01:02Yeah, I mean, it feels like the same old, same old situation with the Sixers.
01:05You know, people were feeling good about Embiid.
01:07You know, he played really well over his last 10 games before he was then out with the injury.
01:12We've also seen the Sixers struggle without him after playing at a high level.
01:16They got destroyed by the Knicks right before the All-Star break.
01:19So this, you look at that line and you're right, Craig, one and a half, that would indicate to you
01:23he's not playing.
01:24I know he's listed as day-to-day.
01:26So this is a tough game for me when you're looking at it from a betting perspective.
01:30I might stay away.
01:31If anything, I would look at some props in this game.
01:33I would look at Tyrese Maxey.
01:35Tyrese Maxey has played really well this season.
01:38He's averaging over 28 points a game.
01:39He has scored over 30 points in three straight games against the Hawks.
01:43So if you want to take Maxey, 30-plus points, I think that's a good value bet for you here.
01:48If you want to even go up a little further to 35, you know, sprinkle something on that.
01:52I think that's not a bad play.
01:53That's a prop I would like.
01:55Jalen Johnson's also been playing good on the side of the Hawks.
01:57Anything with him, 25-plus points, I would like that as well, too.
02:00So if I was this game, I might stay away from the line because I could see the Hawks getting
02:03the upset.
02:04But I would look at those couple of props there.
02:07I think those could be good.
02:09But the Sixers will be fine, and they will get in the playoffs.
02:11But without Embiid, if that does happen, and we don't know that to be the case, yeah, I mean, I
02:17would not be willing to play anything with them except for this play-in.
02:21Plus 115, minus 700 to make the playoffs, 12-1 to win the East.
02:26And then the NBA Finals, a super long shot, 45-1.
02:29Never happened without Embiid there.
02:30All right, so let's get to the burner accounts and the Houston Rockets.
02:34They are minus 4-1-1 tonight against the Hornets on the road.
02:38Total of 2-16-1-1, 7 p.m. Eastern start.
02:42That guy right there on the left of your screen, Kevin Durant.
02:45I feel like usually he takes out some of his frustrations in a game like this tonight.
02:49That could be the case as they visit Charlotte this evening.
02:53Charlotte, obviously not one of the better teams in the national basketball.
02:57No, but, Craig, they have been playing some better basketball as of late with Charlotte.
03:02Here's the interesting thing for me.
03:04You're right.
03:04I could see Kevin Durant, Katie, coming out and giving buckets tonight.
03:08Sure, I could see that.
03:09What I have wondered is if this stuff is true with the burner account, how do some of his teammates
03:14feel about it that he did talk?
03:16It appears, allegedly, looks like he talked about some current teammates.
03:21How do they feel about it and what's their energy around it?
03:23So, yeah, if you want to sprinkle some money on Katie having a big game, yes.
03:26I think the Rockets win this game.
03:28I think they cover.
03:29I think what's interesting for the Hornets is they're still without Moussa Diabate.
03:34They're still without Miles Bridges.
03:36So, if you want to look at something for them, I would look at Ryan Caulkrenner.
03:41Rebounding, I think, could be good.
03:42Somebody's got to step up and get some boards for them.
03:44His line is around, you'll see some books, five and a half, six.
03:47You can take the over with him on there.
03:49He's got to get boards for them.
03:50I think it's a good match for him.
03:51So, I think that's a good prop, but I would take the Rockets to cover in this one pretty easily.
03:57Very strange situation tonight in Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks because it's just a simple game here
04:02in February.
04:03But it feels like, in order for people to have confidence, the Knicks can get deep into the postseason.
04:08And I'm not talking about just winning one round.
04:10I'm talking about winning two and three.
04:12They probably have to win this game tonight to gain the attention of the fans because they're four and a
04:17half point favorites against Detroit,
04:18a team that everyone seems to think has very deep playoff aspirations, total 220 and a half.
04:24I'm not even talking about covering the game here, Dexter.
04:26I'm talking about winning the game.
04:28Show that you can beat one of the better teams in the East or else you're going to have three
04:32straight losses against Detroit.
04:34January, early this month, and then tonight one more time.
04:38Yeah, it's not going to be a good look for the Knicks if they lose tonight.
04:40I think they win tonight.
04:41I'm very confident in the Knicks playing well tonight.
04:44I think they know this is a big game for them.
04:47Look, how much can you take away from this game?
04:49There's still no Jalen Duren in this one.
04:51He will not have played in any of the three matchups against the Knicks this season.
04:54The Knicks had some players out last time.
04:57You know, there was no OG and Inouye.
04:58There's no Caronty Towns.
04:59So, the second matchup was tough to gauge.
05:01But you don't want three Ls, like you said, to the team that's at the top of the conference.
05:05I think it's a huge game for the Knicks.
05:07I think they will respond.
05:08They've been playing really well.
05:09They've won 10 out of the last 12 games.
05:11The defense is looking a lot better.
05:13I think they respond tonight in front of the Mad Square Garden crowd.
05:16I also would take a strong look, especially with no Jalen Duren in this game, Mitchell Robinson.
05:20I expect Mitchell Robinson to have a big game on the glass.
05:23His rebounding line, most books are at 7.5.
05:26But I will go, you want some value?
05:2810-plus rebounds for Mitchell Robinson tonight.
05:30I love that.
05:31I would say jump all over that.
05:33I think Mitchell Robinson has himself a big game on the glass.
05:36And I think that could be huge for the Knicks.
05:38And they're pretty good defensively.
05:39I expect the Knicks to cover that 4.5.
05:41So, if you like that, too, I would rock with that as well.
05:45Let's go out to the Western Conference.
05:46I see the Spurs here, 7.5-point favorites over the Suns.
05:49So, you'll have to educate me here, Dexter, on why this line does feel a little high.
05:53Because Phoenix is playing good basketball.
05:55I'm not sure that they're going to beat San Antonio.
05:57And I know, look, you've got to get out of the Spurs way right now.
05:59They're playing great.
06:00I get that.
06:00Total 229.5, 8.30 p.m. Eastern start.
06:04But it feels like a big number for two teams that are sitting in the playoff mix right now.
06:10It is a big number.
06:11I think Dylan Brooks is still going to be out for this one.
06:13That could be a little bit of shift.
06:15And it is a large number.
06:16I don't love that line.
06:17Because Phoenix has been, if anything, if you watch Phoenix this year, they've been gritty.
06:21They've been really competitive.
06:23They've been able to muck it up.
06:25And I think that's really good.
06:26And the other thing is, Devin Booker, and this is the thing I would look at in this game,
06:30Devin Booker has played very, very well against them.
06:33He has scored over 26 points per game against them.
06:37I think it's just 26.8 in the last seven games.
06:40So, if you want to take him 25-plus points,
06:42I'd look at Devin Booker.
06:43This is a fantastic matchup for him.
06:45If you want to look at him and sprinkle a ladder at 30-plus points as well,
06:48I think that also could be really good when you look at it with Devin Booker.
06:51I don't love this line.
06:52Can the Spurs cover it?
06:54Sure.
06:55I don't love it.
06:56It's always tough with teams coming out at an all-star break.
06:58I think the Spurs, they know they're a couple games behind the Thunder.
07:02They played really well.
07:03Do I think they want to make a push?
07:04Yes.
07:05I think Wemby is encouraged for the guys to make a push.
07:08But I actually wouldn't be shocked if somebody wanted to take the Spurs,
07:13excuse me, the Suns, plus the seven-and-a-half points here.
07:16I don't think that's a bad bet, but I really do like Devin Booker.
07:1925-plus points, 30-plus points.
07:21I think that's a really good value bet for you there.
07:24By the way, Wemby's point total tonight in that game, as you mentioned,
07:2722-and-a-half over on the FanDuel Sportsbook.
07:3011-and-a-half rebounds, two-and-a-half blocks for Victor Wembayama tonight.
07:34If you're looking at FanDuel, those are the odds for him.
07:37Meanwhile, I'm still trying to figure out what course the Clippers are taking at this point.
07:41I'm not really sure.
07:42I felt like they were on this nice run, team chemistry there,
07:45and then they just punted, feels like, by moving James Harden,
07:49who I think is going to be really good for Cleveland.
07:51Denver minus 49 in L.A., total 225-and-a-half.
07:53Jokic now, I would believe, close to full strength, if not at full strength tonight.
07:59Denver's one of those teams that we have to watch as the season comes to a close,
08:02because we know that they're going to be in the mix in the end.
08:05Yeah, and, you know, with the Clippers, Craig, it feels like Kawhi is on an island.
08:08We saw him ball out in the All-Star game the other day.
08:12Kawhi was very impressive, and he's had a fantastic season.
08:14I think when you look at the Clippers, if the Clippers record was better,
08:18or he's still a James Harden, you would be talking about Kawhi as an MVP candidate.
08:22He's been one of the best players in the league in terms of how he's been playing.
08:26He's been fantastic, but he just doesn't have the help right now.
08:30So, in terms of this game, and you talked about Nikola Jokic starting to get back to form.
08:34He didn't play much in the All-Star game the other day.
08:37I think this is probably one of the safest spreads in terms of covering for the night.
08:42I like the Nuggets to cover the four points here.
08:45Even on the road, I think the Nuggets are very motivated.
08:48I think they're motivated to lock themselves into a top-three seed.
08:51Here in the Western Conference, they do not want to drop down to four.
08:54They do have some other teams breathing right down their neck.
08:57So, they really want to do this.
08:59I love the Nuggets to cover here.
09:00This is probably the spread of the night that I'm, other than the Knicks, I would say,
09:03I'm very comfortable in them covering the road for road teams.
09:07So, give me the Nuggets minus four in this one.
09:10Never thought anyone would pass Oscar Robertson's all-time triple-double number,
09:13but then Russell Westbrook did it at 207.
09:15And next season, Koli Jokic has 184 just behind Russell Westbrook.
09:21We'll treat that next season.
09:22Dexter, enjoy the games tonight.
09:23We'll catch up next week.
09:24Will do.
09:25Thanks, Greg.
09:25Thanks, Greg.
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