The NBA takes over the sports spotlight on Friday, with the Spurs, Hornets, Cavaliers, Jazz, Magic, and Lakers in action. There are several handicappers out there hotter than Katia Verber and they are featured on the handicapper’s sampler with Friday night picks.

Here’s your Daily Sports Roundup.

The Gridiron Spotlight

An Arizona/Baltimore Super Bowl matchup opened at 50/1 odds to come to pass, but that line is now down to just 5/1 as we head into conference championship weekend. Still, that’s the longshot of the group, with the Philadelphia/Pittsburgh matchup the favorite at 5/4 (it opened at 8/1). Next up is Arizona/Pittsburgh, which opened at 30/1 and now sits at 9/4. The Philadelphia/Baltimore matchup was pegged at 25/1 odds on the opening line, but it’s at just 3/1 odds right now.

Other Notable Events

The Hornets will try to be the first team to pick up a win in Cleveland this season when they take on the Cavaliers in NBA action on Friday night. LeBron James and company head into that marquee matchup with a 19-0 home record; every other team in the league has lost at least twice in their own building this season.

The other big battle on Friday has Orlando on the road against the Lakers. The Magic head into that game on a five-game winning streak and with a sizeable lead in the Southeast Division standings. Rounding out the Friday slate: New York at Washington, Toronto at Indiana, San Antonio at Philadelphia, Detroit at Oklahoma City, Utah at Memphis, Minnesota at Phoenix, and Milwaukee at Sacramento, while Golden State will get a tough home matchup against Atlanta. 

The Rest of the Schedule

There are a half-dozen games on the ice around the National Hockey League on Friday night, including New Jersey on the road in Columbus. The Devils are coming off a 5-3 road win in Vancouver, with Dainius Zubrus picking up a goal and an assist and Scott Clemmensen making 26 saves. The Blue Jackets slipped past Colorado 4-3 at home in their last outing, getting three points from Kristian Huselius. Rookie goalie Steve Mason stopped 23 of 26 shots in the win.

Three of New Jersey’s Atlantic Division rivals are also in action on Friday, with Pittsburgh hosting Anaheim, Philadelphia in Florida, and the Rangers in Chicago. As well, Toronto will be on the road in Atlanta, and Colorado will host Edmonton.

News from the Wire

Celtics center Kendrick Perkins is out with a shoulder injury; he isn’t expected to suit up for the team this weekend . . . Raptors guard Jose Calderon continues to miss time with a hamstring injury, while center Jermaine O’Neal is still day-to-day with his lingering knee problem . . . Flyers center Daniel Briere has been sent on a minor-league conditioning assignment and should return to action next week….The Red Sox have traded Coco Crisp to the Kansas City Royals.

A Peek at the Future

Saturday is full of big NBA matchups, including Boston at New Jersey (at 1:00pm ET), New Orleans at Detroit, Miami at Houston, Utah at Dallas, and Orlando at Denver . . . No. 9 UCLA will host No. 16 Arizona State in a Pac-10 college hoops matchup on Saturday afternoon, while No. 1 Pittsburgh will be on the road in Louisville . . . the Red Wings will take on the Sharks in NHL action on Saturday.

Other News

Christina’s World painter Andrew Wyeth has passed away at age 91…Circuit City Liquidation means 567 stores will close…Lorrie Sullenberger wife of the heroic USA Airways pilot Chesley reports he is doing fine.