Day: April 28, 2021

Charlotte Hornets (30-31, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (32-30, sixth in the Eastern Conference) Boston; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Boston heads into the matchup with Charlotte after losing three games in a row. The Celtics have gone 18-17 against Eastern Conference teams. Boston is the Eastern Conference leader with 10.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Tristan Thompson averaging 3.0. The Hornets are 17-17 against Eastern Conference opponents. Charlotte is fifth in the Eastern Conference with 13.8 fast break points per game led by Terry Rozier averaging 3.4. The teams meet for the third time this season. The Hornets won 125-104 in the last matchup on April 25. Devonte’ Graham led Charlotte with 24 points, and Kemba Walker led Boston with 20 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylen Brown is averaging 24.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Celtics. Marcus Smart is averaging 14.3 points, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals over the last 10 games for Boston. Rozier leads the Hornets averaging 3.3 made 3-pointers while scoring 20.4 points per game and shooting 39.7% from beyond the arc. Miles Bridges is averaging eight rebounds and 20.2 points per game over the last 10 games for Charlotte. LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 6-4, averaging 112.4 points, 45.7 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.6 points on 45.7% shooting. Hornets: 3-7, averaging 103.3 points, 40.3 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points on 46.8% shooting. INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (ankle), Robert Williams III: out (knee), Kemba Walker: out (left oblique). Hornets: Nate Darling: out (ankle), LaMelo Ball: out (wrist), Gordon Hayward: out (foot), Malik Monk: out (ankle). ___ Sports Betting News created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Sports Betting News

Milwaukee Bucks (38-23, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (15-47, 15th in the Western Conference) Houston; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Houston looks to end its five-game losing streak when the Rockets take on Milwaukee. The Rockets have gone 7-24 in home games. Houston averages 42.5 rebounds per game and is 5-37 when outrebounded by opponents. The Bucks are 18-13 on the road. Milwaukee has a 37-20 record when scoring more than 100 points. The teams face off Thursday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Wood is shooting 52.4% and averaging 21.1 points. Wood is averaging 10 rebounds and 19 points per game over the last 10 games for Houston. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and six assists for the Bucks. Khris Middleton is averaging 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 39.3% over the last 10 games for Milwaukee. LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 1-9, averaging 107.3 points, 43.9 rebounds, 24 assists, 8.4 steals and four blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.8 points on 49.1% shooting. Bucks: 6-4, averaging 120.9 points, 49.2 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 8.9 steals and four blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111 points on 45.1% shooting. INJURIES: Rockets: D.J. Augustin: out (ankle), Dante Exum: out (calf), David Nwaba: out (wrist), Sterling Brown: out (knee), John Wall: out for season (hamstring), Eric Gordon: out (groin). Bucks: Axel Toupane: out (oblique). ___ Sports Betting News created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Sports Betting News

Brooklyn Nets (42-20, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (29-32, ninth in the Eastern Conference) Indianapolis; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: The Indiana Pacers host the Eastern Conference-leading Brooklyn Nets. The Pacers are 16-18 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana is 10-4 when outrebounding opponents and averages 42.4 rebounds per game. The Nets are 22-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. Brooklyn ranks fourth in the league scoring 14.4 fast break points per game led by Kevin Durant averaging 3. The teams meet for the third time this season. The Nets won 124-115 in the last matchup on March 17. James Harden led Brooklyn with 40 points, and Malcolm Brogdon led Indiana with 24 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Brogdon is averaging 21.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the Pacers. T.J. McConnell is shooting 58.6% and averaging 9.4 points over the last 10 games for Indiana. Kyrie Irving has shot 50.3% and is averaging 26.9 points for the Nets. Landry Shamet is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers and scoring 14.5 points over the last 10 games for Brooklyn. LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 5-5, averaging 118.1 points, 45.3 rebounds, 26.4 assists, eight steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.2 points on 46.0% shooting. Nets: 6-4, averaging 117.2 points, 44.3 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.9 points on 46.0% shooting. INJURIES: Pacers: Domantas Sabonis: out (back), TJ Warren: out for season (foot), Goga Bitadze: out (ankle), Myles Turner: out (toe), Jeremy Lamb: out (knee). Nets: Alize Johnson: out (health and safety protocols), Nicolas Claxton: out (health and safety protocols), Bruce Brown: out (knee), Spencer Dinwiddie: out for season (acl), James Harden: out (hamstring), Chris Chiozza: out (hand). ___ Sports Betting News created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Sports Betting News

Dallas Mavericks (34-27, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (19-43, 14th in the Eastern Conference) Detroit; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks take on the Detroit Pistons. Doncic is third in the league scoring 28.6 points per game. The Pistons have gone 12-16 at home. Detroit has a 1-7 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer. The Mavericks have gone 18-13 away from home. Dallas averages 43.7 rebounds per game and is 20-5 when winning the rebounding battle. The teams meet for the second time this season. The Mavericks won 127-117 in the last matchup on April 21. Doncic led Dallas with 30 points, and Jerami Grant led Detroit with 26 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Mason Plumlee leads the Pistons with 9.3 rebounds and averages 10.3 points. Saddiq Bey is averaging 13.7 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 39.6% over the last 10 games for Detroit. Doncic leads the Mavericks averaging 8.7 assists while scoring 28.6 points per game. Dorian Finney-Smith is averaging 6.3 rebounds and 12.8 points per game over the last 10 games for Dallas. LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 3-7, averaging 106.1 points, 45.2 rebounds, 23.4 assists, seven steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.3 points on 46.9% shooting. Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 113.1 points, 43.3 rebounds, 23 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.9 points on 48.0% shooting. INJURIES: Pistons: Dennis Smith Jr.: day to day (knee), Rodney McGruder: out (elbow), Josh Jackson: day to day (illness). Mavericks: Tyrell Terry: out (personal), Kristaps Porzingis: out (ankle), Josh Richardson: out (hamstring). ___ Sports Betting News created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Sports Betting News

Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks) with an alley oop vs the Golden State Warriors, 04/27/2021

Gary Payton II (Golden State Warriors) with an alley oop vs the Dallas Mavericks, 04/27/2021

Jalen Brunson (Dallas Mavericks) with a deep 3 vs the Golden State Warriors, 04/27/2021