Ala Hann Sport picks

Take a break from your March Madness odds for a minute, and check out what San Antonio has to go through to try and wrap up their spot in the NBA playoffs: first, they hosted the Lakers on Wednesday, then on Friday, the Spurs will go up against Cleveland, before Sunday’s trip to Boston. That’s three of the league’s top seven teams in five days, a tough ask of anyone in the league.

Cavaliers vs Spurs odds – Friday, March 26, 8:30 PM ET

The Cavaliers pulled away from New Orleans with a strong third quarter on Wednesday, outscoring them 35-23 in a 105-92 win on the road. LeBron James shot 15-of-22 from the field, going for 38 points, while adding nine assists and six boards for the Cavaliers, who shot 57.1% from the floor, and they are now reworking Zydrunas Ilgauskas back into the lineup. The big center was involved in the Antawn Jamison deal from Washington, but he was bought out and allowed to return to Cleveland, who selected “Big Z” back in the 1996 draft. With Shaquille O’Neal still injured, it helps to have another big body in the lineup, and it doesn’t hurt that Ilgauskas already knows their system.

The Spurs fell just short in a 92-83 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at home on Wednesday, as Manu Ginobili and George Hill combined for 45 points. The problem is, no one else scored more than Roger Mason’s nine points, and sportsbook players will be on the lookout for a return to health from Tony Parker. Tim Duncan had 12 boards, six assists and three assists, but he was held to six points on 2-of-11 shooting.

The Spurs should be favored by sportsbook odds (sportsbook reviews) at home in San Antonio, where the Cavaliers have lost seven of their last 10, although they have won their last two trips there. These two met in Cleveland on March 8^th, with the Cavaliers escaping with a 97-95 win, and that was without James, who had a sprained ankle. Six players reached double figures for the Cavaliers, led by 17 points each from Jamison and Mo Williams, while Ginobili exploded for 38 points in a losing effort for the Spurs. The Cavaliers have won nine in a row heading into this game, and James is averaging 28.6 points, 8.8 assists and 8.2 boards in his last five outings. The Spurs are going to have to find a way to contain him, or at least slow him down, take away his options. The Cavaliers’ supporting cast must make some shots against the Spurs, who have some offensive problems of their own. San Antonio has scored more than 100 points just four times in 13 games with Parker on the sideline, and the offense is idling. Go with Cleveland on the road before checking out your college basketball odds.