Mike Bets #488

Happy Sunday. Yesterday was a decent day. The NBA record was a 1-1 split, but the CBB record was 2-1 with one (spread) and three (ML) unit hits on UConn and a two unit loss on FAU ML. Let’s keep it moving in the positive direction today. But first, a look at yesterday’s action…

NBA

• Luka dropped 42, Tim Hardaway Jr put up 31, and Kyrie chipped in 23. That’s usually a recipe for success, but the rest of the Mavs scored just 26 points in a loss to the Heat, who were without Bam Adebayo. Jimmy Butler (35 points and 12 assists) led the way for Miami, and the Heat pulled back within a game and a half of the Nets and that key 6 seed. Brooklyn’s magic number to clinch that playoff spot remains at 4. The Hawks/Raptors are two and a half back in the 8 seed, so Miami should be secure in the top seven. The Mavs are a full game out of the play-in after the loss. Tonight’s trip to Atlanta is huge. They’ll be in some real trouble if they lose again.

• Brandon Ingram scored 36 to help the Pelicans grab a win over the Clippers in New Orleans. They’ve been playing some good basketball lately, and they’re up to sole possession of the 7 seed with half a game on either side of them. New Orleans is a full three games up on the Mavs, and they’re very close to clinching at least a play-in spot. The next update on Zion should be coming this week. The Clips fall to the 6 seed with the loss, where they sit just half a game above New Orleans. Wednesday’s home game against the Lakers will be really big as they look to hold on to one of those top six spots.

CBB

• A late rush and then a buzzer-beating jumper from San Diego State got them past Florida Atlantic in the first Final Four game. Both teams have just won all year long, and it’s not a surprise that it came down to the last possession. The Aztecs have bounced back from some real punches on the way to the championship game, whether it be Alabama coming out strong to start the second half of their game or FAU taking and maintaining control for a large stretch of this one. They absolutely deserve to be where they are, and they’ll have a chance to hit some big shots and slow down UConn just enough on the other end on Monday night.

• UConn had few issues with Miami in a game that they led commandingly more often than not. The 72-59 win was their closest game of the tourney, believe it or not. It’s been an unbelievable run from the team that looks every bit the world-beating force they were in the non-conference slate earlier this season. One more win finishes the job.

• Both FAU and Miami deserve plenty of credit for incredible seasons and incredible runs through the tourney. FAU won from the start of the year until the end, and they beat Tennessee and Kansas State to reach the Final Four. It was an awesome, never-before-seen year for the program. And Miami had a great run in the ACC and knocked off both Houston and Texas, two of the best teams in the country, not to mention a really talented Indiana team and a good Drake team. Props to both teams.

TODAY’S PLAYS

NBA record: 211-180-7 ATS, 32-62 ML, 109-87-3 O/U, 1-9 parlay, 0-1 props, -17.02 units

• Grizzlies -2

• Timberwolves -17

• Jazz +8.5

• Kings -17

• Wizards Knicks O223

• Mavs Hawks U246.5

• Pistons Magic O224.5

• Rockets +11.5

• Thunder +5.5

• Cavs Pacers U231.5

• Bucks -5

• Warriors ML (+120)

CBB record: 254-229-12 ATS, 57-83 ML, 5-5 O/U, 17-25 parlay, -14.33 units

CBB regular season record: 198-181-8 ATS, 47-75 ML, 4-4 O/U, 12-24 parlay, -30.85 units

CBB conference tourney record: 34-31-4 ATS, 7-10 ML, 0-0 O/U, 4-3 parlay, + 5.87 units

NIT record: 5-5 ATS, 1-0 ML, 1-0 parlay, +3.3 units

NCAA Tourney record: 17-12 ATS, 7-7 ML, 1-1 O/U, 0-0 parlay, +7.35 units

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMP PICKS

Record: 11-21 (10 losses in title game)