the gold sheet
NEW ORLEANS by 17 over Denver (Monday, January 28)
***NEW ORLEANS 113 - Denver 92--Teams already split a pair in Denver, Nuggets avenging early 5-point loss Nov. 4 with 6-point win (but again no Denver cover) at Pepsi Center Dec. 12. Nuggets had Carmelo Anthony to thank for win in second meeting after he scored 15 of his game-high 32 points in 4th Q, offsetting Chris Paul's solid 30-point effort for New Orleans. Now Anthony is nursing an ankle injury, Nene is on medical leave and Iverson is playing with yet another injury (wrist, this time). Between Paul, David West, Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler and Jannero Pargo, Hornets rarely hit cold spells for very long during games. Note Hornets' extended recent uptick (14-2 last 16 vs. line thru Jan. 24), with covers in 8 of last 10 at New Orleans Arena.
Dallas 97 - MEMPHIS 88--Dallas played last night at home against Denver while Memphis is rested. Mavs 14-6 "under" last 20 thru Jan. 24, but Memphis "under" 6-4 at home last 10 after going 9-3 "over" at the FedEx Forum. Mavs miserable start this season as a road favorite (1-6 vs. number in first 7) has been tempered recently (4-4 last 8), so can't mind laying a reasonable number against a losing team like the Grizzlies, especially if Memphis is off a win against the Clippers. Grizzlies just 3-9 vs. the number in game immediately following a SU victory.
UTAH 102 - San Antonio 94--Utah still looking for combination to unlock San Antonio, which took out Jazz in 5 games during last spring's Western finals and captured first meeting this season by 6 at AT&T Center Dec. 7. What made that defeat all the more frustrating for Jazz was that Tim Duncan didn't even play for champs that night due to sprained ankle. But Utah in its preferred home chalk role, one in which it has recorded solid 13-6 spread mark thru Jan. 24. San Antonio has struggled against good (and sometimes bad) teams recently. Spurs are 5-13 against the points in last 18 through Jan. 25, and in that span were just 1-7 SU and against the number facing teams with a winning record.
LA CLIPPERS 104 - Charlotte 103--Los Angeles has turned home fortunes around against the pointspread of late, covering four of last five as host, including double-digit wins against Sacto and New Jersey. Realize Charlotte displaying some identifiable patterns of late, covering 7 of last 10 thru Jan. 24 (with losses against contenders New Orleans, Spurs and Mavs) and going "over" 12-6 last 18 thru same date. Fundamentally, this could be a tough matchup for Clips, as L.A. had trouble containing quicker Bobcat lineup Dec. 12 in Charlotte, but still managed to slip inside spread in competitive 108-103 defeat. Clipper center Chris Kaman will have to battle Emeka Okafor and Nazr Mohammed for every rebound if Los Angeles is to win.
GONZAGA over Portland by 20 to 24--
OKLAHOMA over Oklahoma St. by 7 to 10--
Boise State 77 - FRESNO ST. 73--WAC scouts continue to rave about Boise firepower and various dimensions of attack, which were highlighted when Broncos hit 13 of 22 treys in Jan. 19 upset at Nevada.
Saint Mary's over SAN DIEGO by 4 to 6--
SAN FRANCISCO over Santa Clara by 1 to 3--
PACIFIC 78 - Cal Poly SLO 61--There's nothing wrong with offensive balance, but Cal Poly is taking it to extremes this season (seven Mustangs scoring between 6.5 and 8.9 ppg!). And Big West observers note that HC Bromley is missing departed DD scorers Stockalper & McGinn, especially since sr. G Whiten (only 30% from floor) continues to struggle with his shot. Meanwhile, UOP getting more consistent production from underrated G tandem of jr. S. Johnson (15.8 ppg & 49% FGs) & Miami-Ohio transfer Troyer. Respected HC Thomason reportedly loves chemistry developing on Tiger roster.