Indiana acquired Peja Stojakovic from Sacramento on Wednesday in a trade for Ron Artest. The Pacers are hoping that the 6-foot-10 Stojakovic will be a reasonable facsimile of retired legend Reggie Miller.
Stojakovic wont join the team until next Tuesday at Washington and Jermaine O'Neal will miss at least the next six weeks with a groin injury. Therefore, Indiana will be quite short-handed when it tries to snap a four-game slide Friday at home versus Cleveland.
The Pacers will have plenty of incentive against the Cavaliers after Tuesdays embarrassing 30-point defeat at Quicken Loans Arena.
Indiana also lost the first meeting of the season against Cleveland as five-point road dogs, 94-89. The Cavaliers haven't fared as well at Conseco Fieldhouse where they have lost seven straight, including three in a row by 24, 21 and 22 points respectively.
Cleveland has bounced back to win its last two contests on the road after dropping its previous five tests. The Pacers lost in their last home appearance Saturday against Chicago, 101-89, after winning seven of their previous nine at home.
The last five series squabbles have slipped 'under' the closing total, with the teams combining to average 175.6 points per game. Those low-scoring affairs reversed a trend where six straight meetings topped the total.
Trends and angles for the remainder of Friday's bulky menu appear below.
SUNS at HAWKS
Phoenix may have a tough time rising to the occasion at Atlanta after playing Thursday at Miami and looking ahead to a Sunday shootout at Cleveland. However, the Suns have cashed six of their first nine when playing on consecutive nights. They have also won six of seven against the Hawks (5-2 against the spread), including three straight at Philips Arena (2-1 ATS). Atlanta has faltered in four of its last five as home dogs while Phoenix has dropped three straight as road favorites. The last three meetings in Georgia have tiptoed 'under' the total.
MAGIC at KNICKS
Orlando played Thursday at Philadelphia while New York took the night off after losing its sixth straight, versus Golden State at home, 106-102 in overtime. The Magic won and 'covered' in their first two meetings with the Knicks this season, romping in their initial visit as four-point dogs, 105-90. Orlando has cashed four of five series showdowns after falling short in the previous eight encounters ATS. New York has lost four straight at The Garden and dropped three straight spread decisions as home favorites. Both meetings this season and five of the last seven have been on the high side.
HEAT at CATS
Miami heads to Charlotte following a Thursday home test versus Phoenix. The Heat got a 'push' in their first clash with the Cats this season as nine-point home favorites, 108-99. Charlotte ambushed Miami in the last meeting at home, winning as 8 1/2-point dogs, 94-92. The Bobcats have lost nine straight, including their last three at home, and they are just 3-10 ATS in January. Miami has 'covered' four of its last five and seven of 10 as road chalk.
KINGS at CELTICS
Sacramento snapped a three-game losing slide with an overtime win Wednesday at New York despite playing its fourth game in five nights. Boston had cashed eight of its last nine and won three straight at home until bowing Wednesday to Washington, 89-87. The Kings have won six of seven versus the Celtics and cashed four straight. Sacramento captured the first clash this season in a pick-em affair at home, 116-112. Sacramento snapped a five-game ATS skid as road dogs with its win at New York.
GRIZZLIES at PISTONS
Memphis has given Detroit all it could handle recently, getting the money in four straight and winning in its last trip to the Motor City. The Pistons needed two overtime periods before subduing the Grizzlies in the first clash this season as 3 1/2-point road favorites, 106-104. Four of the last six series squabbles have been decided by four points or less. Memphis has 'covered' five of its last seven as road dogs, while Detroit has stumbled in seven of its last nine as home favorites. The 'over' is 5-2 in the last seven shootouts.
WIZARDS at BULLS
Chicago gained a small measure of revenge for last year's playoff loss to Washington with a home win in the initial clash of the season, 118-111. The Bulls got the money despite a 42-point explosion from the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas. Chicago continues to struggle at the United Center, where it has lost three of four and come up short in four straight as favorites. When the first meeting easily eclipsed the closing total it snapped a five-game series 'under' run.
RAPTORS at BUCKS
Toronto has thrived at Milwaukee, winning and cashing in five of its last six visits. The Raptors continue to prosper as road dogs, getting the green in three of their last four. The Bucks have lost four of their last six at the Bradley Center and they are just 3-6 in their last nine tries as home favorites. The last four tussles have topped the number with the clubs combining to put 218.3 points on the board. Toronto has eclipsed the total in eight of its last 10 trips to the post.
CLIPPERS at NUGGETS
Denver has been the hottest team in the west of late, winning seven straight and 11 of 13. The Los Angeles Clippers have captured three straight and six of their last eight. The Nuggets have won three straight versus the Clippers by an average of 15 points and cashed in five of seven series tussles. Denver trounced Los Angeles in the first meeting at the Pepsi Center as five-point favorites, 105-95. Six of eight showdowns have zipped 'over', including the last four and three straight in the Mile High City.
T-WOLVES at ROCKETS
Houston has won three of four since Tracy McGrady's return and Wednesday it snapped a seven-game losing slide at the Toyota Center with a 102-78 rout of Charlotte. Minnesota lost for the ninth time in 10 tries on the road Wednesday versus Memphis, 107-87. The Timberwolves have averaged just 84.7 PPG during their current three-game losing slide. The Rockets prevailed at the Target Center as three-point dogs in the first meeting this year, 94-89. Houston had blown five straight as home favorites until beating the Bobcats. Five of six series encounters have zipped 'over', including three of four in Texas.
NETS at BLAZERS
New Jersey has been in an offensive funk during its first two stops on this four-game road swing, scoring a total of 155 points while losing by double-digits to Utah and the Clippers. Portland has been a profitable play recently, getting the money in five of six, and cashing four straight as home dogs. The Blazers have 'covered' four of five versus New Jersey, prevailing in the last clash at the Rose Garden as 10 1/2-point favorites, 83-71. The four previous meetings were decided by four points or less.
WARRIORS at LAKERS
The Los Angeles Lakers return to the court for the first time since last Sunday when Kobe Bryant erupted for his historic 81 points versus Toronto. Golden State has been a bit busier, losing at home to the Clippers on Monday and to Dallas on Wednesday in its last appearance. The Warriors have lost eight of 10 in January and they are 4-15 ATS since Dec. 18. The Lakers have won five straight at Staples Center while cashing three of four as home favorites. Los Angeles won for the sixth time in seven tries versus Golden State in the first clash of the season on the road, 110-104. The Lakers are 5-1 SU versus the Warriors at home but only 1-3-2 ATS. Ten of the last dozen series battles have been on the high side, including the last four when the teams combined to average 212.8 PPG.
JT
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