A big name was traded Wednesday when the Orlando Magic sent guard Steve Francis to the New York Knicks for Anfernee Hardaway and Trevor Ariza. He was one of many high-profile trades over the last month in the NBA. Perhaps the biggest trade of the season occurred in late January when the Indiana Pacers sent Ron Artest to Sacramento for Peja Stojakovic. This trade has worked wonders for both clubs as the Pacers are currently on a 6-1 SU (7-0 ATS) streak and the Kings are 7-3 SU (8-1-1 ATS) in their last ten games. .
Both Indiana and Sacramento travel tonight to face division rivals in the Pistons and Lakers. Below is a look at each of these national TV games on TNT for Thursday night.
INDIANA at DETROIT (-8 ½, 178) (TNT)
The Pacers enter this game with a terrific seven-game home standing where they went 6-1 SU and a perfect 7-0 ATS with their lone loss coming against the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs. The current 6-1 SU losing streak follows a 0-6 SU losing streak in late January.
Indiana has been on its current winning streak without its best player, as Jermaine O’Neal remains out with a groin injury. O’Neal is expected to miss at least another month and leads the team in scoring (20.9 ppg), rebounding (9.8 ppg) and blocks (2.2 ppg). Indiana has also been without forward Austin Croshere (8.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg) for the past seven games as he is day-to-day with a concussion. Point guard Jamaal Tinsley (10.4 ppg, 4.9 ppg) has missed the last eight games with an elbow injury.
Despite the absence of three regulars, the Pacers continue to win and are coming off an impressive 97-75 home win over New Orleans as 6 ½-point favorites on Tuesday night. The biggest difference has been the acquisition of former Sacramento striker Peja Stojakovic. The Pacers are 6-2 SU (7-0-1 ATS) since he joined the lineup on Jan. 31. Overall, Stojakovic ranks second on the team in scoring (18.6 ppg) and rebounding 7.3 rpg) and has helped fill the void created by the absence of Jermaine O’Neal.
The Pistons are 43-9 SU this season and have an extremely strong home court where they are 24-2 SU, however punters often inflate the point spread and Detroit is just 13-12-1 ATS in those twenty-six home games. Detroit has the most talented starting lineup in the league with four players on the All-Star team.
Detroit is coming off a 97-87 home win over Atlanta on Tuesday and is playing out revenge tonight from a 93-85 road loss at Indiana on February 4. The Pistons were 7-point favorites on the road in that game and outscored the Pacers 43-39 percent from the field, but were outrebounded 64-49, including trailing 25-12 on the offensive boards.
SACRAMENTO at THE LAKERS (-2, 199) (TNT)
The Sacramento Kings started 0-2 SU/ATS when Ron Artest joined the lineup on Jan. 27, but the Kings have since gone 7-3 SU (8-1-1 ATS) in their last ten games. Artest is currently the second team in scoring (17.5 ppg), third in assists (3.7 apg) and leads the club in steals (2.8 spg).
Sacramento has become a better defensive squad with Artest and the Kings have controlled seven of their last nine opponents on 42 percent or less shooting. Sacramento has also allowed 89 or fewer points in six of those nine games.
The Kings continue to play without guard/forward Bonzi Wells, who has missed the last eight games with a groin injury. Wells is a doubt tonight and is tied for the lead in rebounds (7.9 rpg), second on the team in steals (1.8 spg) and fourth on the team in scoring (14.6 ppg) and assists (3.1 apg).
Sacramento could also be without forward Kenny Thomas, who was injured in Tuesday’s 102-77 home win against Golden State. Thomas is questionable tonight due to an eye injury and is averaging 26 minutes per game this season and is third on the team in rebounding (6.9 rpg) and seventh in scoring (9.2 ppg). Thomas had been playing more minutes during Bonzi Well’s absence, and Thomas has averaged 11.8 rebounds in the last five games.
The Lakers returned from the All-Star Break with an impressive 99-82 home win over Portland on Tuesday as the Lakers’ Lamar Odom had one of his best performances of the season with 20 points and 17 rebounds. The Lakers haven’t won back-to-back games since Jan. 16 and are just 6-9 SU (4-9-2 ATS) during that span.
This is a revenge game for the Lakers who lost 118-109 in overtime in Sacramento on Jan. 19 as 3-point favorites on the road. Kobe Bryant scored 51 points in that game and went 13 of 13 from the free throw line. Lamar Odom had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Kings were led by Mike Bibby’s 40 points and a triple-double by Kenny Thomas with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
