It is a busy night in NBA on Wednesday with thirteen games on the board and injuries continue to play a major role. Below is a look at nine games this evening in which key players might not be available for their teams.

PHOENIX (-10) at MIAMI (ESPN)

The Heat have learned to win without Shaquille O’Neal and have gone 7-1 ATS during the past eight games, compared to just 1-7 ATS in the first eight games that Shaq missed earlier this season.

Miami has been led by outstanding play from Dwyane Wade who has scored at least 32 points or more in six of his past nine games, but Wade is expected to miss tonight’s game after having his wisdom teeth removed on Tuesday.

Miami was 0-5 ATS last year when Wade did not play and the Heat must now face the hottest team in the league as the Phoenix Suns enter on an 11-game SU winning streak and they stand 10-2-1 ATS over their past thirteen games.

CHARLOTTE at CLEVELAND (-10½, 185½)

Charlotte is 1-5 SU/ATS in their past six games and they have lost each of their past three games by at least 20 points or more. The Bobcats have been without point guard Brevin Knight for the past two games and he is listed as questionable tonight due to a calf injury. Knight leads the team in assists (6.8 apg) and is fourth in scoring (12.5 ppg).

This is a revenge game for Cleveland as the Cavaliers lost 92-88 as a 4-point road favorite at Charlotte on November 4th. It was the first time Charlotte had defeated the Cavaliers and the Bobcats are still just 1-7 SU (3-5 ATS) in the past eight meetings.

DETROIT (-4½) at INDIANA

The Pacers were extremely short-handed in their 106-91 loss at Chicago on Monday as three of their top five scorers did not play in the game. Indiana will regain the services of guard Stephen Jackson after he served his one-game suspension, but Al Harrington is questionable due to food poisoning and Jermaine O’Neal is doubtful due to a hamstring injury.

O’Neal leads the team in scoring (17.8 ppg) and rebounding (9.9 rpg), while Harrington is second in scoring (16.9 ppg) and third rebounding (6.7 rpg).

BOSTON (-2½) at PHILADELPHIA

The 76ers have gone 0-3 SU (1-2 ATS) the past three games since Allen Iverson was benched. The superstar will not play again this year until he is traded and he leads the team in scoring (31.2 ppg), assists (7.3 apg), and steals (2.2 spg).

Boston is also short-handed and they have been without forward Wally Szczerbiak for the past five games due to an ankle injury. Boston started 0-3 SU/ATS, but they have since won back-to-back games outright as an underdog without Szczerbiak who is questionable tonight and is second on the team in scoring (19.6 ppg).

TORONTO at ORLANDO (-9)

Toronto is now 22-4 ATS as an underdog of 8 points or more since early last season, including 5-2 ATS this season, but one of those losses just occurred on Monday night when Toronto lost 99-77 at Miami as an 8½-point underdog.

Toronto was without their best player, forward Chris Bosh, who has missed the past two games (0-2 SU/ATS) and is expected to miss again tonight due to his knee injury. Bosh leads the team in scoring (20.5 ppg), rebounding (12.2 rpg), and blocks (1.1 bpg).

ATLANTA at NEW YORK (-7)

Atlanta forward Joe Johnson has missed the past two games and is listed as doubtful again tonight due to his calf injury. Johnson has been one of the most valuable players in the league this season and he had been the Hawks leading scorer in every game this year.

Johnson’s league-leading streak of 376 consecutive games was snapped on Sunday and he leads the team in scoring (28.7 ppg) and minutes played (41.8 mpg). Johnson is shooting 50-percent from the field, including 40-percent from three-point range.

The Knicks have been without guard Steve Francis for the past two games (1-1 SU/ATS) and he is out indefinitely due to tendonitis in his right knee. Francis is fourth on the team in scoring (11.0 ppg) and assists (4.5 apg).

SEATTLE at CHICAGO (-9½, 201)

Seattle has played their past four games without their leading scorer, Ray Allen, but the Sonics have still gone a solid 3-1 SU/ATS compared to just 1-4 SU in the five previous games before Allen was injured. Allen will be out for at least another two weeks due to an ankle contusion and leads the team in scoring (25.3 ppg) and minutes per game (40.7 mpg).

L.A. LAKERS at DALLAS (-8, 195½) (ESPN)

The Lakers are coming off a 102-94 win at Houston last night, but they lost forward Lamar Odom in the first quarter due to a sprained knee. Odom is questionable tonight and leads the team in rebounding (8.7 rpg) and is second in scoring (17.5 ppg) this season. The Lakers road win at Houston last night was more impressive than the 102-94 final score indicated as Los Angeles led by 27 points in the game.

The Mavericks are coming off a 101-79 loss at Utah on Monday and might once again be without Jerry Stackhouse who has missed the past two games due to a groin injury. Stackhouse is averaging 27 minutes per game and is fourth on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg). The Mavericks are 2-1 SU (1-2 ATS) this season without Stackhouse in the lineup.

UTAH (-3) at L.A. CLIPPERS

The Clippers could be without four of their top six scorers tonight due to various injuries. Sam Cassell left Monday’s 103-81 loss versus San Antonio with a foot injury, while Corey Maggette missed the game due to a knee problem. Chris Kaman missed the game due to a stomach virus and Tim Thomas played only four minutes due to a finger injury.

All four players are either questionable or doubtful tonight and together they combine for 46.4 points, 21.6 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game this season.

Utah might also be short-handed as center Mehmet Okur is questionable after injuring his ankle in Monday’s 101-79 versus Dallas. Okur is second on the team in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and third in scoring (14.9 ppg) this season.
 

Steve Merril
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