Thursday Night NBA Play of the Night: Lakers and Heat

This should be a classic tonight.

The Lakers are playing well on a long road trip and the Heat look like they are on the verge of self-destructing.

The Heat are actually getting 2 points at home tonight.  Normally I would like that, I don't for this one.

The Heat are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games and 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games overall.

The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games.

Should be an easy win tonight for the Lakers, who look like they are playing on cruise control.

Kevin Love Notches 52nd Straight Double-Double

Kevin Love has surpassed Moses Malone for the most consecutive double-doubles in the post-merger era, notching his 52nd such game against the Pacers to break a mark that stood for more than 31 years.

The Timberwolves forward experienced swelling in his left knee following Monday's game against Dallas and was a game-time decision but he played through the pain.

He was in the lineup and produced immediately, recording his 10th point on a free throw with 6:51 remaining in the second quarter and pulling down a defensive rebound on the next possession for his 10th carom.

The Target Center crowd gave Love a standing ovation while the game was going on and an even bigger one on the next stoppage of play.

Entering the game, Love led the league in rebounds with 15.8 per game while pacing the Timberwolves in scoring with 20.9 points per outing.

Love, in his third season from UCLA, was named an All-Star this season for the first time as an injury replacement for Houston's Yao Ming.

Malone's streak went from December 29, 1978 to October 12, 1979 when he was with Houston.

SEC Basketball Tournament in Atlanta

The SEC Basketball Tournament takes over the Georgia Dome this week and if past history tells us anything about the tournament, it is that something remarkable will likely happen.

It might be tornadoes, it might be coaches getting ejected, it might come down to a team playing two games in one day to win the championship.

Kentucky is the defending champion. The Wildcats beat Mississippi State 75-74 in the 2010 finals.

The tournament schedule is:

Thursday, West No. 5 Auburn vs. East No. 4 Georgia, game one, SEC Network, noon

Thursday, East No. 6 South Carolina vs. West No. 3 Ole Miss, game two, SEC Network, 2:30 pm.

Thursday, East No. 5 Tennessee vs. West No 4 Arkansas, game three, SEC Network, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, West No. 6 LSU vs. East No. 3 Vanderbilt, game four, SEC Network, 9 p.m.

Friday, game one winner vs. West No. 1 Alabama, game five, SEC Network, noon

Friday, game two winner vs. East No. 2 Kentucky, game six, SEC Network, 2:30 p.m.

Friday, game three winner vs. East No. 1 Florida, game seven, SEC Network, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, game four winner vs. West No. 2 Mississippi State, game eight, SEC Network, 9 p.m.

Saturday, game five winner vs. game six winner, game nine, semifinals, ABC, noon

Saturday, game seven winner vs. game eight winner, game 10, semifinals, ABC, 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, championship game, Game 11, ABC, noon

This is an important tourney for teams like Vanderbilt,, Georgia and Alabama which need a good showing to keep reasonable NCAA Tournament hopes alive.  Should be some good games starting Thursday.

RickLimpert.info Picture of the Week: A Lot of Titles

To say that these three guys have hoisted up a bunch of trophies over the years is an understatement.

Roger Federer with 16 Grand Slam titles, Pete Sampras with 14 Slam titles, and Laker's Coach Phil Jackson with 11 NBA Championships.  Not too shabby.

Federer was in L.A. early this week preparing for the BNP Paribas Open being held in Indian Wells.

Fed an Sampras practiced together before heading tothe Laker's game.

Saturday Big XII Basketball Play of the Day: Missouri

It's one of the Big XII's biggest games anytime these two teams play.

Today #2 Kansas crosses the border into Missouri to take on the #24 Tigers.

Missouri is getting 3 points as home team and I like that.

The Tigers are unbeaten at home this season with a 17-0 record, they also are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.

Kansas is playing to get a #1 seed in the NCAA Tourney, so they will be playing hard, but I still like Missouri getting the 3.

This game begins early at noon Eastern.