Daily tips for December 19

What’s on today

It’s all eyes on the AmericanAirlines Arena for the battle of Eastern Conference powerhouses Miami and Indiana with the big question regarding the fitness of Heat superstar LeBron James; that’s just one of 12 games scheduled for today as the NBA takes centre stage in the US; there are only two NHL games on the card with the visit of the injury-riddled Penguins to the Rangers the pick of the pair; it’s also a big day of racing on the local calendar with the running of the 3yo Magic Millions Stakes at Wyong; GL punters!

Racing for December 19

Horse racing: Seymour (Vic – dead 4), Wyong (NSW – good 3), Rockhampton (Qld – good 3), Geraldton (WA – good 3). Harness racing: Redcliffe (Qld), Cranbourne (Vic), Mildura (Vic), Newcastle (NSW), Northam (WA), Penrith (NSW). Greyhound racing: Angle Park (SA), Albion Park (Qld), Warragul (Vic), Warrnambool (Vic), Dapto (NSW), Hobart (Tas), Maitland (NSW), Sandown Park (Vic), Shepparton (Vic), Dubbo (NSW), Mandurah (WA).

Conditions look perfect on the NSW Central Coast for the running of the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Stakes this afternoon. The former looks a race-in-two between Unencumbered and Sheer Style while the 3yo event, worth $100,000, will jump with #5 Sweet Idea (pictured) as a short-priced favourite for Gai Waterhouse. She is rated well beyond anything here and is coming off a narrow second in the Silver Shadow Stakes behind Thump on August 24, after which she was found to have bled. Her 1050m trial win at Randwick on December 2 gave every indication she has returned in good order and is expected to be firing fresh with James McDonald aboard.

Confirmed bets

Wyong R7 #5 Sweet Idea (win x3) 1st ($1.50)

Wyong R3 #14 Seritza (win) LOSE (2nd)

Seymour R2 #6 So Does He (win) 1st ($1.75)

Leans

Wyong R5 #4 Sheer Style (win) 3rd (NTD)

Seymour R5 #1 Bruntwood (win) 1st ($3.00)

Seymour R8 #15 Mandla (win) 1st ($2.40)

Rockhampton R6 #5 Dichotomy (E/W 1x2) 3rd ($2.70)

Rockhampton R7 #10 Simbarosa (E/W 1x2) LOSE (U/P)

NBA for December 19

Indiana Pacers (20-4, 9-3 away) @ Miami Heat (18-6, 11-2 home), AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL, Thursday, December 19, 11.10am

The Indiana Pacers had little trouble beating the defending champion Miami Heat at home last week by a score of 90-84. That loss to Indiana marked the only time in the past five games that LeBron James has not shot at least 66.7 per cent from the field. The Pacers will attempt to prove they can do the same on the road when they visit the Heat on Wednesday. Indiana suffered its first home loss on Monday but still owns the top record in the Eastern Conference by two games over Miami, which will bring an 11-2 home record and the memory of a Game 7 win in the Eastern Conference finals into the meeting. Homecourt advantage played a big role in the series between the Heat and the Pacers last spring, with the home team winning each of the final four games. One key to those games (and most games) for Miami was reigning MVP James, who will play after missing practice on Tuesday with a sprained left ankle.

Indiana may have been caught out looking ahead in Monday’s game against the Detroit Pistons, when Roy Hibbert (2-for-12) and Paul George (4-for-14) suffered through sub-par efforts in a 101-96 setback. But Indiana forward Lance Stephenson put up a career-high 23 points and is averaging 21.5 on 64.3 per cent shooting in the last two games. The Pacers have not won a regular-season game in Miami since November 2010, but offer match-up advantages over the Heat with Hibbert, George and David West going up against a smaller front line. Miami’s 90-84 loss at Indiana marked its lowest point total of the season and James was limited to 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting. James, who averaged 27.5 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in the Heat’s last two games, is taking the long-term view on his ankle injury and is not ready to declare the meeting with the Pacers as a pivotal contest. The ‘under’ is 4-0 in the last four meetings between these sides while the home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five clashes.

Confirmed bets

Indiana Pacers @ Miami Heat -4 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (94-97)

Washington Wizards +4.5 @ Brooklyn Nets (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (113-107)

Memphis Grizzlies @ Dallas Mavericks 1H -6 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (39-52)

Chicago Bulls @ Houston Rockets -8.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (94-109)

San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns +3.5 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (108-101)

Leans

Charlotte Bobcats @ Toronto Raptors -190.5 $1.91 LOSE (104-102)

Utah Jazz @ Orlando Magic -3.5 $1.91 LOSE (86-82)

Sacramento Kings @ Atlanta Hawks -6 $1.91 WIN (107-124)

Detroit Pistons @ Boston Celtics -194.5 $1.91 LOSE (107-106)

New York Knicks @ Milwaukee Bucks NO LEAN

Portland Trail Blazers @ Minnesota Timberwolves -2 $1.91 WIN (109-120)

New Orleans Pelicans @ Los Angeles Clippers -205 $1.91 WIN (95-108)

NHL for December 19

Pittsburgh Penguins (24-10-1, 49 pts) @ New York Rangers (16-17-1, 33 pts), Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, Thursday, December 19, 12.10pm

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ injury list seems to be growing by the game, but thanks to Sidney Crosby and some newfound depth, their winning ways are continuing. The Penguins try to win a fifth straight game for the second time in three weeks at Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers can finally say they’ve recorded a victory on their team-record homestand. Pittsburgh’s top four defensemen (Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik, Paul Martin and Rob Scuderi) are injured, and Deryk Engelland may be facing a suspension. Add in long-term injuries to forwards Beau Bennett, Tanner Glass and Andrew Ebbett, the suspension of James Neal and a lower-body injury that’s kept star Evgeni Malkin out three of the past six contests, and it’s clear the Penguins (24-10-1) have had to dig for some depth. However, defenseman Brian Dumoulin, rookies Philip Samuelsson and Olli Maatta along with veteran Matt Niskanen have helped fill the void. Having Sidney Crosby healthy doesn’t hurt, either. Pittsburgh’s captain broke a 1-all tie in the third period of the 3-1 win, the Penguins' ninth in 10 games.

Pittsburgh has trailed for a total of 3 minutes, 12 seconds in its last six games, a feeling that must be foreign to the Rangers (16-17-1). New York has gone four-plus games (264 minutes, 2 seconds) without holding a lead, though it snapped a four-game slide with Sunday’s 4-3 win over Calgary. The Rangers are 1-3-1 on their nine-game homestand. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist is 2-0-1 with a 0.97 goals-against average in his last three starts versus Pittsburgh, and made 28 stops in New York's 5-1 home win on November 6. Marc-Andre Fleury has allowed 11 goals on 64 shots in his last two trips to the Garden, but he has an impressive 1.42 GAA and .952 save percentage in his past seven starts. The Rangers, who are without captain Ryan Callahan (MCL) and defenseman Marc Staal (concussion), may have a source of offense in Derick Brassard. The second-line center has two goals and three assists in the Penguins’ last two visits to MSG. I like the Rangers at home for my only NHL tip of the day.

Confirmed bets

Pittsburgh Penguins @ New York Rangers WIN (one unit @ $1.80) LOSE (4-3)

Leans

Ottawa Senators @ New Jersey Devils -5 $2.00 LOSE (5-2)
Pittsburgh Penguins @ New York Rangers -5 $2.00 LOSE (4-3)

• Selections are listed in three categories – 1) Suggested (likely bet but yet to be finalised); 2) Confirmed (locked in at the price listed); and 3) Leans (tips, but not recommended bets); all times quoted are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT); prices with thanks to Centrebet (except where markets are not available), correct at time of publication – for most people gambling is an exciting and fun recreational pursuit. For others it can become a problem with devastating consequences for them, their families and friends. We want you to enjoy your gambling experience. We want you to stay in control of your gambling and not allow your gambling to control you.