Prediction Nba Nhl today friday 31-03-2017

NBA

Two teams fighting to qualify for the postseason will square off on Friday night, when the Denver Nuggets visit the Charlotte Hornets. The Nuggets have dropped two straight games and have fallen a game behind Portland for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with eight games remaining. On Tuesday, Denver was never able to regain the lead during the final quarter of a 122-113 loss at Portland. The Nuggets allowed the Blazers to shoot 50 percent from the field.

Jameer Nelson led six Denver players in double figures with 23 points on 8-for-11 from the field. Wilson Chandler added 17 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort for the Nuggets.

The Charlotte Hornets have split their last ten games overall and are running out of time to make the playoffs. With just seven games remaining on their schedule, the Hornets remain three games behind Indiana for the final playoff spot in the East. On Wednesday, Charlotte kept their postseason hopes alive with a 110-106 road victory at Toronto. The Hornets scored 44 points over the final 12 minutes and connected on half of their 32 three point attempts.

Marco Belinelli scored a team high 21 points on 7-for-11 from the floor. Marvin Williams contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets.

Recent Betting Trends:

Nuggets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.

Hornets are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 home games.

Over is 15-7 in Nuggets last 22 road games.

Over is 5-0 in Hornets last 5 overall.

Nuggets are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

Free Betting Pick: Charlotte Hornets -1

Charlotte G Ramon Sessions has been cleared to play, but will not make his return for this matchup. The Hornets rank 12th in defensive efficiency, while the Nuggets are second to last in that category. Take Charlotte to grab the win and cover at home on Friday night. Final Score Prediction, Charlotte Hornets 114-107.

NHL

The timing for a slump couldn't be worse for the New York Islanders, who barely are keeping their heads above water in the playoff race. New York attempts to snap a three-game slide and climb within four points of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference when they host the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

Following a two-day break, the Islanders came out flat in Philadelphia on Thursday and trailed by five goals after one period before dropping a 6-3 decision. The setback pushed them six points behind Boston for the final postseason spot in the East with six games remaining and two other teams in their path. New Jersey resides in the conference basement thanks to a stretch during which it has gone 2-12-4 since edging the visiting Islanders 3-2 on Feb. 18 in the opener of a home-and-home series. However, the Devils have earned points in three of their last five contests - including a shootout loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG Plus 2 (New Jersey), MSG Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE DEVILS (27-35-14): Kyle Palmieri leads the team with 25 goals and trails Taylor Hall (51) by one point for the club lead while needing two tallies and two assists to reach 100 for his career in both categories. The 26-year-old has been kept off the scoresheet in three consecutive games, however, and has gone six contests without a goal. Hall is one tally away from reaching the 20-goal plateau for the fifth time in his seven NHL seasons.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (35-29-12): New York welcomed Johnny Boychuk back into the lineup Thursday after the defenseman missed 12 games with a lower-body injury. The 33-year-old Boychuk registered five shots and four hits while blocking one shot but finished with a minus-2 rating in 23 minutes, 26 seconds of ice time. Cal Clutterbuck reached a milestone against the Flyers, ending a 26-game drought with the 100th goal of his career.

OVERTIME

1. The Devils have lost eight straight on the road, last winning away from home on Feb. 4 at Columbus.

2. New York LW Jason Chimera scored his 18th goal Thursday, leaving him one point shy of 400 for his career.

3. New Jersey is tied with Dallas for the league lead with 11 short-handed goals allowed.

PREDICTION: Islanders 4, Devils 2