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Here are leans from The Linemakers on Sporting News: Miami Heat (-8, 187.5) at Charlotte Bobcats The fat lady is tuning up and the buzzards are circling Charlotte, which is one reason the Heat are favored 4.5 points over what the power ratings say it should be (the hobbled Al Jefferson is another reason. According to coach Steve Clifford, Jefferson is unlikely to play tonight). Even with this hefty number, though, we can’t recommend taking the home dog here....

Four of the eight first-round, best-of-seven series start Saturday, and we’ve got the schedule, matchup analysis and TV and gambling info on every game. (All times Eastern; all odds from Linemakers .) MORE: 8 teams that could win it all | First-round predictions | Buy playoff tickets No. 6 Bucks at No. 3 Bulls , 7 p.m., ESPN Where: United Center, Chicago. Spread: Bulls by 7.5. Over/under: 186.5 points....

What is noteworthy is how the Rockets’ bench reacted to his cruical misfires in the fourth quarter. MORE: Magic Johnson should steer clear of Paul George in search for next Lakers superstar That’s right. Rockets reserves were dying of laughter as Roberson floundered from the line. Some onlookers viewed this as disrespectful. Personally, while the laughing is clearly disrespectful to Roberson, my prevailing thought is “So what?” It’s harmless, and if Roberson is offended by it, he should either shoot free throws better or avoid getting to the line....

After losing the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals, Houston claimed a 126-121 overtime win against Golden State at the Toyota Center. Here are three takeaways from the game that put the Rockets back on track to compete. Eric Gordon is a difference maker Eric Gordon might be one of the most important players in this series. The 2017 sixth man of the year is averaging 24 points against the Warriors this postseason, which is up from his regular season average of 16....

First, Harden took a heavy shot to the face from Green in Game 2 and suffered a laceration to his eyelid. Harden missed nearly a full quarter in the game after suffering the injury. Then again in Game 3, Green once again hit Harden in the eye in the first quarter. Neither play looked to be intentional but that didn’t stop Harden from refusing a peace offering from Green soon after the play in Game 3....

The Bucks leveled the Eastern Conference semifinal series at 1-1 after Tuesday’s 123-102 victory over the Celtics in Milwaukee. Boston blitzed Milwaukee in Game 1 but Irving and the Celtics were no match for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who posted a double-double in the second showdown. Irving scored just nine points after going 4-for-18 from the field but the former Cavaliers guard was unfazed postgame. “There’s no extra burden,” said Irving, who had 26 points and 11 assists in Sunday’s 112-90 win....

The COVID-19 break has allowed all NBA teams, including the defending champions Toronto Raptors, to recharge their batteries. Toronto Raptors’ centre, Marc Gasol, who spent two stints this season on the injured list due to a hamstring injury, used the time off to get fitter and healthier. Brett Brown, the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers NBA team, is confident that Ben Simmons, who suffered a back injury, will be able to play even if he’s not 100% when play resumes....

#10 Oklahoma City Thunder - Record: 20-15 Despite losing Paul George and Russell Westbrook in an offseason of change, the Oklahoma City Thunder have managed to stay in contention. After making an expectedly slow start to the season, Billy Donovan’s team has lost just once in their past 10 games, and Saturday’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers marked a fifth consecutive win. At 20-15, the Thunder are gaining ground on the teams in front of them in the West, and they could be a threat come the postseason if they opt to keep their biggest stars past the trade deadline....

A Western Conference executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy.com that the Detroit Pistons, LA Lakers and Dallas Mavericks might pry away Green from Golden State. The executive explained that the former Defensive Player of the Year is not afraid to leave the Warriors. The Pistons have the money to convince Draymond Green to return home. Green is from Saginaw and went to Michigan State. Detroit also has a nice young core of players such as Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren....

With that in mind, we check in with an NBA scout and a general manager to get their thoughts on the tournament that just wrapped up with Villanova’s victory over Michigan, and which players helped boost their draft stock over the past three weeks. MORE: Every team’s most painful NBA Draft regret Jalen Brunson, Villanova Should he enter the draft, Brunson will go as an NCAA champion, and though his championship-game performance (nine points on 4-for-13 shooting) was not one for the ages, he was a clutch player for the Wildcats all year....

Williamson, who claimed every major college basketball player award with his freshman season at Duke, is a 1-to-2 favorite to win the award in his first year with the Pelicans, according to odds provided by BetOnline.com. Williamson was the first overall pick in Thursday night’s NBA Draft. No. 2 overall pick Morant, a point guard who led Murray State to an NCAA Tournament first-round victory, is the second favorite at 4-to-1....

NBA Draft 2020: Orlando Magic planning to move up in the lottery The Orlando Magic are a playoff team, but have failed to progress past the first round of the postseason in the last few years. The Magic have a strong frontcourt comprising of Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic, and are a forward away from being a strong challenger in the playoffs. According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Orlando Magic are trying to move up in the lottery from their current position at No....

“That would be everything,” Chriss said. “It would be cool, my family could come to half the games. To be in an environment with a new arena, they’re rebuilding their program, that would be really cool.” MORE: NBA Draft schedule | Who would each lottery team draft first? Chriss has caught the fancy of NBA scouts and executives who have marveled at his leaping ability and potential to develop a perimeter shot....

“It wasn’t really a scuffle because I didn’t hit him and he didn’t hit me, and I didn’t push him and he didn’t push me,” Green told reporters Friday. “We talked. We barked a little bit, but I wouldn’t necessarily consider that a scuffle, not really what I personally would consider a scuffle.” Green passed by the rapper on his way back to the locker room after the Warriors fell 118-109 on Thursday....

Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry got a taste of the adulation to come at a media conference this weekend. Arjun Ram, a teen reporter for CBC Kids News, posed a question to Lowry: “Mr. Lowry, how does it feel to be an icon all over Canada to kids?” Lowry chuckled a couple of times, shook his head, put his head in his hands and seemed genuinely surprised. “That’s a crazy question — I ain’t never been asked that one,” Lowry said....

This is a guy who has been in the NBA for 11 years, who was the 24th pick in the 2006, just behind Josh Boone and well behind his Villanova teammate, sixth pick Randy Foye. Lowry had to battle Mike Conley for playing time in his early days in Memphis, and he did not come upon his first major NBA contract until he re-signed with the Raptors in the summer of 2014, inking a four-year deal worth $48 million....

With free agents like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving hitting the open market, a few NBA general managers will be looking to reconstruct their rosters and turn their teams into instant contenders. The Warriors could lose Durant this summer, potentially breaking up a dynasty and creating a more realistic path to the NBA title for the other 29 teams. NBA DRAFT 2019:Grades, analysis for first-round picks | Winners and losers...

Let’s take a look at the NBA Games on 2nd February: LA Clippers vs Detroit Pistons - Little Caesars Arena - 5:00 PM ET Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets - Spectrum Center - 7:00 PM ET Brooklyn Nets vs Orlando Magic - Amway Center - 7:00 PM ET Milwaukee Bucks vs Washington Wizards - Capital One Arena - 7:00 PM ET Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers - Quicken Loans Arena - 7:30 PM ET...

Over the last 10 years, there has been no shortage of memorable moments, and while the likes of James Harden and Luka Doncic are now putting up huge numbers on a nightly basis, there are a number of individual performances over the past decade that have left a lasting impact. So, as we head towards 2020, here we will take a look at the five greatest performances of the last decade....

A playmaker requires the ability to pass the ball perfectly, quick decision making, positioning, high basketball IQ and great vision. These guys make their team better on the offensive end. Not everyone can master the art of passing but some players are truly gifted. In this presentation, we will take a look at the five greatest playmakers in NBA history. #5 LeBron James LeBron James is often considered the best basketball player in the world right now and regarded by some as the greatest player of all time....