1.listić
Denver vs Phoenix vs New Orleans
New Orleans Hornets under 92.5 @2.96 Denver is hosting the Suns, and honestly, they’re both fighting tooth and nail for that 8th seed in the West—which is basically the last ticket into the playoffs. It’s that final spot, you know? Just one win separates them, so this game feels massive since every single matchup right now is deciding who stays alive and who gets sent home early. Denver is looking pretty solid at home, sitting at 15-12, though they've been dealing with some injury drama lately. I guess maybe Gallinari could return tonight; he's a question mark, but even without him, they should be able to handle the Suns. Lawson is definitely quicker than Nash, so he might just take over the game. Phoenix, on the other hand, hasn't been great on the road—they're 12-15 and have been struggling away from home recently. Plus, losing Grant Hill for the rest of the season is a huge blow; he’s such a reliable defender and always hits those clutch threes when needed.
For my second pick, I’m leaning on the Spurs' solid defense and the fact that the Hornets' offense has been pretty lackluster. They’re one of the weaker offensive squads out there, and most of their wins come from just locking teams down defensively. Tonight, Jack is a bit uncertain, and he’s been playing out of his mind lately, often clearing 20 points. Even with Gordon back in the mix, I don't really buy that he can totally fill that void just yet.
2.ticket Chris Bosh under 17.5 1.85
LaMarcus Aldridge vs David Lee 2 1.95
@3.6075 Bosh has been playing pretty poorly lately; that mid-range game he usually relies on just isn't clicking anymore. He’s never been the most aggressive guy, and since he’s not getting many looks next to Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, his numbers have dipped since leaving the Raptors. Today, the Miami Heat are facing the Memphis Grizzlies, who have one of the toughest frontcourts with Pau Gasol and Zach Randolph. Throw in Speights, and you've got a bunch of elite defenders. If Miami wants to pull this off, they’re probably going to have to rely on their perimeter players, because getting much from a struggling Bosh against a defense like that seems like a tall order.
As for David Lee, after Ellis left and with Stephen Curry sidelined, he’s been playing alongside three rookies in the starting lineup, so it’s obvious he’s taking more shots. His stats have jumped quite a bit—he actually dropped 31 the other night with decent efficiency. So, I guess if he takes a few fewer shots today, he could easily hover around that line again. Aldridge is the main scoring option for the Blazers, but he rarely explodes for more than 30; he usually hangs out in that 20-25 range. Part of why I’m picking this is because they’re running into the Dallas Mavericks, which is easily one of the best defensive teams in the league.
3.ticket Toronto vs Cleveland -8.5 2 1.85
Dallas vs Portland -6.5 1 1.85
@3.4255 Even with their injury issues, I think the Cavaliers can at least cover the spread against this year's Raptors. Honestly, the Raptors aren't exactly playing for keeps; they're more focused on securing a high lottery pick in the draft. They did get Bargnani back, which gives them a new offensive dimension, but I have a feeling this one is going to be a real nail-biter until the very end.
Dallas is incredibly tough at home, and this is another crucial game for them. In a crowded West, one loss can easily push you out of the playoff hunt. They're facing a Portland Trail Blazers team that’s been pretty inconsistent on the road and looks completely fractured after all the trades and their coach moving on. I think Dallas will definitely be able to feed Aldridge and the crew well, and given how many scoring options they have, I wouldn't be surprised if they have a really productive night offensively.