Caster Semenya Loses Appeal against IAAF Hormones Rules

South African Olympic runner Caster Semenya lost her appeal against rules made to reduce the naturally high testosterone levels among some female runners. With a vote of 2 to 1, the highest court in the sports world said the proposed rules from the International Association of Athletics Federations are unfair.

However, the court added the discrimination was needed to preserve the integrity of female athletes. Track’s governing body told the best pay per head bookie that high levels of testosterone in female athletes don’t conform to the standard definitions of gender. Also, it gives athletes like Semenya an unfair advantage over normal females.

Semenya said the ruling will not stop her from competing. However, some critics are questioning her previous accomplishments due to the latest ruling. The Olympic runner said the proposed IAAF rules targeted her because they tried to slow her down. However, it will only make her stronger.

Life Goes On for Caster Semenya

Semenya is going to Doha for the Diamond League track event. She will compete in the 800 meters on Friday. The Diamond League is a yearly series of events for top track athletes in the world. In fact, the event will be the last one before the new IAAF takes effect according to a bookie pay per head demo.

Testosterone is a hormone related to the male gender. It strengthens bone mass and muscle tone. As a result, it is illegal to swallow or inject testosterone supplements. However, there are some women who have naturally high levels of the hormone.

The IAAF requires women to reduce their testosterone level to below 5 nanomoles per liter of blood. The normal levels of the hormones among female athletes aare around 0.12 to 1.79 nanomoles per liter. Men have levels ranging between 7.7 and 29.4.

Semenya’s level was never disclosed due to privacy issues. The South African Sports Confederation condemned the rules because it will cause distress among targeted athletes.

NBA Playoffs: Trail Blazers vs Nuggets

Nuggets Look to go up 2-0 on Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets will meet on Wednesday at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets will be looking to take early control of this best-of-seven series and go up 2-0 heading back to Portland. Nikola Jokic's star continues to shine this postseason. The All-Star center was splendid all around in game one. He had 37 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocked shots to lead Denver to a 121-113 victory.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, TNT LINE: Nuggets -4; O/U: 219.

Jokic has topped 20 points in six of eight playoff games this postseason. He had a 43-point effort during the first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs. The Trail Blazers made a lot of wrong plays in the opener as they committed 18 turnovers. Six were from star point guard Damian Lillard.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter played with a separated left shoulder in Game One. He displayed toughness and produced as he scored 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting in 33 minutes. Kanter received an injection prior to the game in an attempt to alleviate the pain. SG Rodney Hood scored 17 points in the opener. He only averaged 3.2 ppg in the first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Denver allowed 29 or more points in three of the four quarters in Game One. Guard Jamal Murray committed just one turnover while putting up 23 points and eight assists. He has scored at least 23 in four of the past five playoff games. Jokic was 12-of-12 from the free-throw line in Game 1. This was after attempting more than four shots from the charity stripe twice in the first round against San Antonio. SG Gary Harris scored 11 points in Game One. He failed to reach 20 points for the sixth straight game. This is after opening the San Antonio series with outings of 20 and 23 points.

The Dart Throw: Nuggets 115, Trail Blazers 109

NBA Playoffs Betting Odds & Trends

Portland Trail Blazers
Portland is 15-4 SU in its last 19 games
Portland is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Portland's last 6 games on the road
Portland is 1-6-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Denver
Portland is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Denver
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Portland's last 5 games when playing Denver
Portland is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Denver
Portland is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Denver
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Portland's last 9 games when playing on the road against Denver

Denver Nuggets
Denver is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver's last 7 games
Denver is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Denver's last 17 games at home
Denver is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Portland
Denver is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Portland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Denver's last 5 games when playing Portland
Denver is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Portland
Denver is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Portland
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Denver's last 9 games when playing at home against Portland

Next up:
Portland home to Denver Friday, May 3

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MLB Wednesday: Astros vs Twins

Astros Look to Keep Offense Rolling

The Houston Astros and the Minnesota Twins meet on Wednesday at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Astros look to make it two straight stellar offensive performances Wednesday Night for the third contest of their four-game series. Houston scored just 12 runs in a five-game stretch before last night. The squad broke out with seven extra-base hits in Tuesday's 11-0 shellacking of the Twins.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston); LINE: Astros -144; O/U: 9 Under -105.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Collin McHugh (3-2, 4.78 ERA) vs. Twins LH Martin Perez (3-0, 4.44)

George Springer, Jake Marisnick and Alex Bregman each homered on Tuesday night. The Astros won for just the fifth time in their last 11 dust-ups. Josh Reddick and Michael Brantley each had three of the team's 15 hits. Brantley went for his seventh multi-hit performance in 11 games. Minnesota managed only three hits on Tuesday. Max Kepler had two of those. The Twins had its four-game winning streak snapped in prime fashion. Eddie Rosario leads the American League with 11 homers. He has gone 0-for-14 during his four-game funk.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Houston's McHugh had nine strikeouts for the third time this season in his last outing. He gave up three runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision against Cleveland. McHugh has allowed 12 earned runs in his last two starts. He started the season well after only giving up a total of five runs over his first four starts. McHugh is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) against the Twins. SS Carlos Correa went 2-for-3 with three RBI's on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.

The Twins' Perez is coming off back-to-back victories over Baltimore. He issued just one walk over 12 innings in those starts. The youngster has allowed just one run in two of his three starts this season. Perez is 6-4 with a 3.00 ERA in 11 career starts versus Houston. He has struggled against Jose Altuve, who is 11-for-34 with six doubles. CF Byron Buxton is 1-for-13 with six strikeouts over his last five games

The Dart Throw: Astros 6. Twins 3

MLB Betting Odds & Trends

Houston Astros
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Houston is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 7 games
Houston is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 games on the road
Houston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Houston is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Minnesota
Houston is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing Minnesota
Houston is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Houston is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Minnesota

Minnesota Twins
Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games
Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Houston
Minnesota is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing Houston
Minnesota is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games when playing at home against Houston
Minnesota is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Houston

Next up:
Houston at Minnesota Thursday, May 2

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NBA Playoffs: Celtics vs Bucks Game 2

Bucks Look to Put Awful Game One Behind Them

The Boston Celtics battle the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. The Celtics dominated the Bucks in Game One of the series. The Bucks haven't been saddled like that and rode but few times this season. They have to play better defense, shoot foul shots at a higher percentage and get the "Greek Freak" involved to have a shot in Game Two.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT LINE: Bucks -7; O/U: 219.

The Celtics stunning performance in the opener of the Eastern Conference Semifinals was something to see. They look to make it two straight wins tonight. Fourth-seeded Boston frustrated Milwaukee MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo and received a stellar performance from Al Horford in their commanding 112-90 victory in Game 1.

Horford had 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in the 22-point shellacking. He led the charge against Antetokounmpo, who was just 7-of-21 shooting while scoring 22 points. The top-seeded Bucks shot just 34.8% from the field. The team looked nothing like the offensive juggernauts that averaged 121.8 points during the first-round sweep of the Detroit Pistons.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The Celtics' Horford averaged 11 points and shot 36.1% from the field in the teams first-round sweep of the Indiana Pacers. He resembled his five-time All-Star form in the opener. Kyrie Irving contributed 26 points and 11 assists in the opener and shooting guard Jaylen Brown scored 19 points. SF Jayson Tatum scored four points on 2-of-7 shooting in Game 1. He averaged 19.3 points in the series against Indiana.

Milwaukee was stunned to be handled so easily on its home floor in Game One. The shell-shocked team knows it has to figure out how to get Antetokounmpo on track if they want to avoid heading to Boston with an 0-2 deficit. Forward Khris Middeton contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. The other three starters combined for just 12 points on 3-of-17 shooting. Eric Bledsoe scored in single digits three times in last season's seven-game, first-round series loss to Boston. He held true to form and had six points in Game 1.

The Dart Throw: Bucks 112, Celtics 99

NBA Playoffs Betting Odds & Trends

Boston Celtics
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Boston's last 12 games on the road
Boston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Boston's last 13 games when playing Milwaukee
Boston is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Boston's last 18 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee

Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Milwaukee is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Milwaukee's last 12 games
Milwaukee is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Milwaukee is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games at home
Milwaukee is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Milwaukee's last 13 games when playing Boston
Milwaukee is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games when playing at home against Boston
Milwaukee is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Milwaukee's last 18 games when playing at home against Boston

Next up:
Boston home to Milwaukee Friday, May 3

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MLB Monday: Dodgers vs Giants

Dodgers Coming Off Sweep of Pirates

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants will meet on Monday night at AT&T Park. The Dodgers are threatening to make a joke of the National League West and the others are just trying to keep up.

TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco); LINE: Dodgers -150; O/U: 8 Under -115.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (3-2, 5.20 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (2-1, 3.00)

Cody Bellinger told reporters following his team's last victory that he isn't "trying to do too much." Well he is all but carrying the Los Angeles Dodgers and making a mockery of National League pitching. The 2018 NL Championship Series MVP has set his sights on becoming the first major-league player ever with 15 home runs before May 1st.

Bellinger finished 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI's in Sunday's 7-6 comeback victory. He helped Los Angeles complete a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh. Bellinger has joined Albert Pujols (2006), Alex Rodriguez (2007) and Christian Yelich (2019) as the only players to hit 14 home runs before the end of April. The former NL Rookie of the Year has already shattered several records during his torrid start. Some of those include the club mark for most hits in March/April with an astounding 44 that found the holes. He set the major-league standard for total bases before May 1st with 94. The Dodgers have won four straight to remain atop the NL West. That is in large part to Bellinger's bat. Bellinger, who is tied with Yelich for the major-league lead with 14 homers, is also pacing the majors with a .427 average and 36 RBIs.

The Giants have lost three in a row and are in last place in the division after getting swept by the New York Yankees over the weekend. San Francisco dropped two of three in Los Angeles during the arch-rivals first series of the season. Each game was decided by two runs or fewer, if that really matters.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The Dodgers' Maeda, is coming off his worst outing of the season. He surrendered six runs on seven hits, with three walks across a season-low four innings. The start still ended in a loss Tuesday at the Chicago Cubs. Maeda is 1-2 with a 7.53 ERA in three road turns and has given up 11 runs in 9 1/3 innings over his last two such outings. He is 2-0 with 2.70 era in two home starts. Joe Panik is 6-for-14, and Yangervis Solarte is 5-for-14 and each have homered versus Maeda. The hurler is 0-2 with an 8.16 ERA in six career appearances (three starts) at Oracle Park.

The Giants' Samardzija has lasted past the sixth inning only once in five outings this season. He performed adequately nonetheless, allowing three runs or fewer four times. The one-time All-Star won for the second time in three trips to the mound Tuesday in Toronto. He limited the Blue Jays to two runs across 5 1/3 frames. Bellinger (1-for-5), Max Muncy (1-for-5) and Joc Pederson (2-for-4) each have one home run versus Samardzija. The hippie, Notre Dame product is 1-4 with a 4.06 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts) against the Dodgers. C Buster Posey, who leads the team with a .247 average, is batting .360 over his last seven contests after hitting .196 over his first 17 games.

The Dart Throw: Dodgers 7, Giants 2

MLB Betting Odds & Trends

Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
LA Dodgers is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of LA Dodgers's last 15 games
LA Dodgers is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
LA Dodgers is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing San Francisco
LA Dodgers is 6-12 ATS in its last 18 games when playing San Francisco
LA Dodgers is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing San Francisco
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games when playing San Francisco
LA Dodgers is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
LA Dodgers is 8-15 ATS in its last 23 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
LA Dodgers is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 7 games when playing on the road against San Francisco

San Francisco Giants
San Francisco is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games
San Francisco is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 5 games
San Francisco is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
San Francisco is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
San Francisco is 12-6 ATS in its last 18 games when playing LA Dodgers
San Francisco is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
San Francisco is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers
San Francisco is 15-8 ATS in its last 23 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
San Francisco is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
San Francisco is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Francisco's last 7 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers

Next up:
Los Angeles at San Francisco Tuesday, April 30

NBA Playoffs Free Pick- 76ers at Raptors Game 2

76ers Look to Even Series at 1 a Pop

The Eastern Conference matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the playoffs resumes this Monday night.Toronto will host Game 2 of this best-of-seven affair. BetAnySports has opened the Raptors as 6.5-point favorites with the total line set at 220.5 points for this 8 p.m. tip on TNT. The line is now Toronto favored by 7 and the total is down to 219.5.

The 76ers are down 1-0 for the second playoff series in a row after losing Game 1 to Brooklyn 111-102 as 7.5-point home favorites. They went on to win the next four games both straight-up and against the spread with the total staying UNDER BetAnySports’ closing line in three of the five games. They find themselves in the same situation in this best-of-seven series after losing Saturday’s opener 108-95 as 6.5-point underdogs on the road. The total stayed UNDER 223 points in that game.

All five starters ended Saturday’s game in double figures led by JJ Redick’s 17 points. Joel Embiid scored 16 points with eight rebounds and Tobias Harris ended the day with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Philadelphia shot 39.3 percent from the field and it was 11-for-32 from three-point range. The Sixers failed to reach 100 points for first time in their last seven games after ranking fourth in the league in scoring (115.4 points).

Raptors Playing Well at Right Time

Toronto faced
Orlando in the opening round of the postseason after earning the No. 2 seed in
the East. It was on the wrong end of a 104-101 loss in Game 1 of that series
before winning the next four games SU. The Raptors were 3-2 ATS over those five
games with the total staying UNDER in the first four games against the Magic.
With Saturday’s win, Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last seven home games with a 5-2
record ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in three of its last four games at home.

The Raptors got a huge effort from Kawhi Leonard in the series opener with 45 points while going 16-for-23 from the field. Forward Pascal Siakam also came up big with 29 points and he connected on three of his four attempts from three-point range. Toronto opened up nine point lead at the half that it never relinquished. It shot 51.9 percent from the field.

The Raptors looked sharp in the series opener while Philadelphia showed a bit of rust from an extended layoff. Look for things to remain much closer on Monday night with the 76ers covering with the 6.5 points.

NBA Playoffs Betting Odds & Trends

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games
Philadelphia is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
Philadelphia is 3-22 SU in its last 25 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Philadelphia's last 15 games when playing Toronto
Philadelphia is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Philadelphia is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto

Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Toronto's last 7 games
Toronto is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
Toronto is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Toronto's last 15 games when playing Philadelphia
Toronto is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

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NBA Playoffs Series Preview: Celtics vs Bucks

Get ready for an intense Eastern Conference Matchup

Bring out your popcorn and get ready for the Buck’s first
true test in the playoffs this year when they battle the Celtics in the Eastern
Conference Semifinals. Both teams are coming off a sweep in their previous
series, so we know neither team is going to make it easier for their rivals.

Giannis is eager to prove himself and to confirm that it
wasn’t a fluke that they ended up with the league’s best record. Whereas Boston
is finding their mojo at the perfect moment to help them live up to
expectations put on them at the beginning of the season.

Schedule:

Game 1 (at MIL) Sunday, April 28, 1 p.m. -- TV: ABC Current Line: BUCKS -7 ½ -- Over/Under 223.

Game 2 (at MIL): Tuesday, April 30, TBD -- TV: TBD

Game 3 (at DET): Friday, May 3, TBD -- TV: TBD

Game 4 (at DET): Monday, May 6, TBD -- TV: TBD

Game 5* (at MIL): Wednesday, May 8, TBD -- TV: TBD

Game 6* (at BOS): Friday, May 10, TBD -- TV: TBD

Game 7* (at MIL): Monday, May 13, TBD -- TV: TBD

Bucks looking for revenge from last season’s elimination

Last season, the Celtics eliminated the Bucks from the
playoffs in a thrilling seven games. So, Giannis will be looking for revenge
with a much better stacked team (and a new head coach) this time around.
However, the Celtics upgraded themselves by adding Kyrie Irving and Gordon
Hayward, so expect both teams to be at their best. Plus, don’t forget about the
Eric Bledsoe and Terry Rozier rivalry that developed last year… that will be
fun to watch.

The series kicks off in Milwaukee since they have home court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs. Besides that, Bucks won the regular season series (2-1) against the Celtics, which will give them confidence throughout the series.

Against the Spread

If you are looking to bet on the Celtics this series, they have covered the spread in their last 6 games including playoffs and regular season. The Bucks have covered their spread their last 4 games, all against Orlando however. Throughout the whole season and playoffs, the Celtics have covered 50% of their games while the Bucks have covered 62.2%.

At Jazz Sports you can bet on the series winner as well as every spread throughout the games. There will be tons of prop bets to work bet on as well!

The Dart Throw:
Bucks in 6. 

If you think you might know how the series will end then
Jazz Sports will reward you quite handsomely with these lines:

Celtics to Win Series 4-0  
+3000

Celtics to Win Series 4-1  
+1800

Celtics to Win Series 4-2  
+500

Celtics to Win Series 4-3  
+900

Bucks to Win Series 4-0  
+800

Bucks to Win Series 4-1  
+220

Bucks to Win Series 4-2  
+425

Bucks to Win Series 4-3  
+250

Injury Report:

Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart (oblique) - Will most likely
not be available this series against the Bucks.

Milwaukee Bucks: Malcolm Brogdon (foot) - Bucks expect him to be ready to play at some point in the series with Boston.

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NBA Playoffs: 76ers vs Raptors Game 1

Sixers and Raptors Well Rested for Round Two

The Toronto Raptors (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS) and Philadelphia 76ers (4-1 SU and ATS) both made quick work of their first-round opponents. They’ll meet tonight in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal. The Raptors took their regular-season series 3-1 SU and ATS. The Raptors are willing to ride Kawhi Leonard as far as he can take them. They better hurry as Leonard is scheduled to become a free agent after the season.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT, Sportsnet One (Toronto) LINE: Raptors -6.5; O/U: 224.5.

The All-Star small forward averaged 27.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in the first round against the Orlando Magic. Leonard averaged 30.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and four steals in three games against Philly. Philadelphia is likely to assign Ben Simmons to be the primary defender against him. Third-seeded Philadelphia dispatched the Brooklyn Nets in its first-round series. The team is looking to win multiple playoff series for the first time since losing in the 2001 NBA Finals. Toronto has lost in the second round in each of the past two seasons. They reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2016.

Both teams in this matchup won each of their past four games after dropping their first-round openers. The rest in between series should help the Sixers more, as center Joel Embiid has been in and out of the lineup with a sore knee.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The Raptors are relatively healthy heading into the second round. PG Kyle Lowry dislocated a finger during Tuesday’s Game 5 win over the Orlando Magic. Lowry popped his finger back into place after the injury and continued to play. Forward O.G. Anunoby is still recovering from his emergency appendectomy. He might not appear in this series., as third-string center Chris Boucher is iffy with back spasms.

Philadelphia Center Joel Embiid has battled knee issues of late. He averaged 26.3 points and 11.8 rebounds against the Raptors in the regular season. Simmons committed an average of 6.3 turnovers while recording 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists. 24 of the 25 turnovers came in losses. Philadelphia has lost 13 straight games in Toronto dating back to a 93-83 win on Nov. 10, 2012. F Mike Scott to miss Game 1 with a right heel contusion that he suffered Tuesday in Game 5 versus the Brooklyn Nets.

The Raptors', Leonard had outings of 36 and 31 points in the regular season against the 76ers. Leonard has been receiving yeoman help from young forward Pascal Siakam. He averaged 22.6 points and 8.4 rebounds in the series against Orlando. The Raptors are just 2-14 in Game 1's.

The Dart Throw: Raptors 104, 76ers 98

NBA Playoffs Betting Odds & Trends

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Philadelphia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Philadelphia's last 19 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games on the road
Philadelphia is 4-13 ATS in its last 17 games when playing Toronto
Philadelphia is 3-21 SU in its last 24 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Philadelphia's last 14 games when playing Toronto
Philadelphia is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Philadelphia is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games when playing on the road against Toronto

Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games
Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Toronto is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Toronto is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 games when playing Philadelphia
Toronto is 21-3 SU in its last 24 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Toronto's last 14 games when playing Philadelphia
Toronto is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 7 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

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NL East: Phillies vs Mets

Sillies, err.. I mean Phillies Look to Avoid Sweep by Mets

The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets meet on Wednesday at Citi Field. The Phillies have been showing more fire in their post-game interviews than they have on the field lately. They have losses in five of their last six game and have gotten outscored 18-2 in that span. The slumping Phillies look to dig deep and avoid a series sweep by the Mets on Wednesday night.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Philadelphia, SNY (New York); LINE: Phillies -129; O/U: 9 Over -120.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (0-0, 2.55 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jason Vargas (1-0, 9.58)

Bryce Harper's acted like the spoiled brat that he is and got ejected in Game 1 of the series. His actions were met with critical comments by teammate Jake Arrieta following the 5-1 setback. Phillies manager Gabe Kapler told reporters that Tuesday's meeting was an important one. Philadelphia didn't play like it in the 9-0 shellacking. They mustered just five hits. They found a little fire from Rhys Hoskins. He objected to two fastballs sailing over his head in the ninth inning. Kapler ordered an intentional walk of Jeff McNeil to get to Todd Frazier. He then belted a grand slam in the fifth inning. Wilson Ramos has recorded an RBI in back-to-back games for the Mets. They are looking to cap this series with a sweep after losing two of three in Philadelphia from April 15-17.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The Phillies Velasquez has pitched very well in his four appearances this season. Yet he has yet to record a decision. This is despite allowing just five runs on 13 hits with 16 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings. He has permitted a homer in three straight outings. Velasquez owns a 1-4 mark with a 4.58 ERA in eight career starts versus New York. Michael Conforto is 6-for-12, three homers, seven RBI's, and definitely has had his number. Conforto is also 6-for-17 with two homers, two RBIs and four runs scored versus Philadelphia this season. CF Roman Quinn is 2-for-21 with 13 strikeouts in his last six games.

The Mets, Vargas answered getting just one out in his previous start at Atlanta by allowing one run on three hits in four innings to take a no-decision at St. Louis on Friday. Vargas is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in five career appearances against Philadelphia. He has enjoyed success in a small sample size versus Harper, who is 0-for-5 against him.

The Dart Throw: Mets 4, Sillies 2

NL East Betting Odds & Trends

Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Philadelphia is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games
Philadelphia is 6-17 ATS in its last 23 games on the road
Philadelphia is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games on the road
Philadelphia is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing NY Mets
Philadelphia is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Mets
Philadelphia is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Mets

New York Mets
NY Mets is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 16 of NY Mets's last 22 games
NY Mets is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
NY Mets is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Mets's last 6 games at home
NY Mets is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
NY Mets is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
NY Mets is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

Next up:
Philadelphia home to Miami Thursday, April 25
New York home to Milwaukee Friday, April 26

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NBA Playoffs: Clippers vs Warriors, Game 5

Warriors up 3-1 in the Series

The Los Angeles Clippers have battled hard against the Golden State Warriors, but they still face elimination Wednesday night in Oakland. The Clippers are down 3-1 in this best-of-seven first-round series, although they’ve split the cash 2-2 ATS thus far. The Warriors squandered a huge lead in losing Game 2. They recovered with a pair of impressive wins as Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson led the way.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State) LINE: Warriors -14.5; O/U: 233.

The lone straight-up victory for Los Angeles happened in Game 2, when they erased a 31-point deficit to win 135-131 as 14-point road dogs. However, the bigger story from that game was the torn left quad suffered by Golden State center DeMarcus Cousins. He’s out for the remainder of the playoffs, and might not be ready for the start of the 2019-20 regular season.

The Warriors haven’t missed a step. Andrew Bogut has been inserted into the starting lineup, and has played well at both ends of the court. Bogut did earn league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors in his native Australia. Kevon Looney is also playing solid minutes for the Dubs in a reserve role.

Golden State is trying to end the series as quickly as possible. They would like to prepare for a likely semifinal round against the Houston Rockets. They followed up a blowout victory in Game 3 with a 113-105 triumph in Game 4 on Sunday. The Clippers trailed by three points entering the fourth quarter on Sunday and were in the game until the final minutes.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Los Angeles small forward Danilo Gallinari went 5-of-20 from the floor on Sunday and 7-of-33 in the two home games. He dropped his shooting percentage for the series to 29.2%. Shooting guard Lou Williams collected 36 points and 11 assists in the Game 2 victory. He then went a combined 6-of-21 in Games 3 and 4. PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points on Sunday. He had failed to reach double figures in the previous two games.

Klay Thompson scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half to spark Golden State on Sunday. Thompson is 8-of-11 from 3-point range in the last two contests. Durant poured in 38 points to fuel the rout in Game 3, added 33 points on 12-of-21 shooting in Sunday's win. Stephen Curry was held to 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting, including 1-of-9 from 3-point range, in Game 4.

The Dart Throw: Warriors 120, Clippers 99

NBA Playoffs Betting Odds & Trends

Los Angeles Clippers
LA Clippers is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
LA Clippers is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
LA Clippers is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of LA Clippers's last 17 games
LA Clippers is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Clippers's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 17 of LA Clippers's last 25 games on the road
LA Clippers is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Golden State
LA Clippers is 3-19 SU in its last 22 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 11 of LA Clippers's last 15 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Clippers's last 6 games when playing Golden State
LA Clippers is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Golden State
LA Clippers is 2-12 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 6 of LA Clippers's last 8 games when playing on the road against Golden State

Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Golden State is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 18 of Golden State's last 25 games
Golden State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Golden State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Golden State's last 13 games at home
Golden State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing LA Clippers
Golden State is 19-3 SU in its last 22 games when playing LA Clippers
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Golden State's last 15 games when playing LA Clippers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State's last 6 games when playing LA Clippers
Golden State is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
Golden State is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Golden State's last 8 games when playing at home against LA Clippers

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