Rating: 2 Units

The day off on Friday night will surely do this Mavericks team wonders, particularly superstar Doncic. Doncic has certainly been carrying the load for his team in Irving's absence. They have won four out of five games heading into Portland and Doncic is putting up MVP numbers. While the Mavs are susceptible to teams that can run an efficient offense, the Blazers are not that team. Additionally, the Blazers are not likely to slow down the Mavericks' high-octane offense. I expect another big night from Doncic and the superstar guard will find a teammate to play off of as he has throughout this current run. The Blazers give away too many possessions with turnovers and are last in the league in shooting. This one will be a big win for the Mavs.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Golden Hurricane have won five straight home games. They are playing well offensively at home, scoring more than 80 points per game. They’ve also taken advantage of their opportunities at the charity stripe, making over 72 percent of their free throws. They rebound the ball well and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them extra-scoring chances. The Bears usually play well defensively, but they struggled in recent games, giving up more than 70 points per game in their last three games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Golden Hurricane in this game. The Bears have lost three straight road games. They have struggled offensively on the road, scoring less than 70 points per game. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Golden Hurricane and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball on the road, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Golden Hurricane, who average more than nine steals per game at home. The Golden Hurricane have played well defensively and they’re better at home where they are holding opponents under 65 points per game, so expect them to keep Missouri State’s offense in check. Go with Tulsa to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

There is a clash of styles in this game, and both teams have strengths that their opponent will struggle to defend. Clemson has a strong post player and is surrounded by outside shooters. Memphis has an elite level do-everything wing, surrounded by athletes everywhere to fly up and down the floor. With the game being in Memphis, I believe they will be able to control the tempo, push the pace, and take advantage of Clemson's lack of speed. PJ Hall is a nice center for Clemson, but he will not be able to keep up in a footrace with Memphis as they will beat him down both ends of the floor. Memphis is also more athletic on the perimeter and will have a hand in Joe Girard III's face on every shot. David Jones has been on fire lately for Memphis, he has scored over 22 in three straight games and is one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. Memphis has depth on the perimeter, and will play to their strengths by pushing the tempo on both ends of the floor.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Coach Prime has stolen all the headlines about the Colorado Buffaloes, but the men's basketball team is putting together a special season. Colorado (7-2), led by junior guard KJ Simpson, already has been ranked and is on the verge of getting back into the polls. The Buffaloes can state their case when they host Northern Colorado on Friday night in Boulder, Colo. Simpson leads the team in scoring with 19.4 points per game and is also averaging 4.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds. He had 20 points in a 90-63 rout of then-No. 15 Miami on Sunday, and his coach believes he should be in the conversation with the best guards in the nation.

Rating: 2 Units

Despite a dominant first quarter (30-19), the Celtics lost by 17 points to the Magic in their previous matchup this season. Orlando scored 94 points in the final three quarters, shooting 50.6 percent overall with a 60-40 scoring advantage in the paint and a +17 rebounding margin. The Magic put the C's on the free-throw line too much (37 FT attempts) and turned the ball over 18 times, but Boston struggled to find its stroke from three-point range (7-for-29). In Friday's rematch, I expect the Celtics to play a more complete game, knocking down more threes and holding their own inside. The Magic are unlikely to replicate their performance, as they rarely shoot the basketball that efficiently and won't dominate the Celtics again at the rim, as the C's boast the third-lowest opponent rim% in the league (57.2%). Porzingis, who only played 22 minutes in the first meeting, will do his duty as the team's rim protector, keeping Mo Wagner (27 points on 9-of-13 shooting) in check this time around.

Rating: 2 Units

The Indiana Pacers are solid on the road, winning four of their last six road bouts including a win against the Hawks and Heat. The Washington Wizards continue to struggle and only have one home win all season. They have lost 15 of their last 16 games. This is an ideal matchup for Indiana who leads the NBA in scoring. The Wizards are the worst defensive team in the NBA. They are last in points allowed and points conceded per 100 possessions. Indiana is sporting a dazzling 50.7% field goal percentage and opponents are shooting a stunning 50% against the Wizards. They have lost by at least 20 points in three consecutive games.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Nevada is arguably a much better offensive team than Weber State, but I think the Wildcats’ defense is good enough to contain the Wolf Pack and help the team beat the number. Weber State takes good care of the ball (25th in turnover percentage, 14.2%) and dominates on the defensive glass (13th in defensive rebound percentage, 77.5%) while keeping its rivals off the free-throw line (33rd in defensive free-throw rate (24.9). The Wolf Pack love to attack the rim and are third in the country in free-throw rate (50.2). They should win this game, but I’m not sure Nevada will be able to beat Weber State by double digits. The Wolf Pack will have a tall task to slow Dillon Jones down. 

Rating; 2 Units

Struggling Chicago State (3-9) hasn't faced a Power Five school this season and is coming off Sunday's 66-50 home loss to the St. Thomas (Minnesota). The Cougars shot just 38.8 percent from the floor, including 27.8 percent from 3-point range. Wesley Cardet and Noble Crawford paced Chicago State with 12 points each, but the team couldn't maintain its momentum down the stretch after drawing within 49-45 with seven minutes to go. Should the Cougars aim to trap Buie, who scored 31 points in the upset of Purdue, the Wildcats will be ready. Buie had eight assists against Detroit Mercy as Northwestern's ball movement kept the Titans off-balance. The Wildcats assisted on 29 of their 34 field goals. Reserve Nick Martinelli shot 10-for-12 from the floor en route to a career-best 22 points. Ryan Langborg hit five of Northwestern's 10 treys and scored 19 points, while Ty Berry (16) and Brooks Barnhizer (13) also finished in double figures. The Wildcats also were plus-four on the glass and had nine steals, four from Langborg. Northwestern is 15-0 against Chicago State all-time, including an 85-54 victory in its season opener a year ago. The Wildcats' 31-point margin of victory was their smallest in the series since a four-point win in December 2016.

Rating; 2 Units

The Bulldogs score 75.4 points per game (166th) on 43.6 percent shooting (236th), including 31.3 percent from long range (265th). They knock down 71.4 percent of their foul shots (161st) and average 38.9 rebounds per game (22nd). MSU's opponents score 62.0 points per game (19th) on 37.2 percent shooting (12th), including 24.9 percent from deep (4th), with 30.3 rebounds per game (126th). Mississippi State is ranked 28th nationally.

Rating: 2 Units

Monday night's NBA lineup features four games with double-digit spreads, hinting at potential blowouts, and the Trail Blazers vs. Clippers game is no exception. The matchup looks particularly challenging for Portland, prompting me to side with the Clippers, who are favored by a significant margin. Portland's situation is tough, with key players Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, and Deandre Ayton all questionable due to injuries. Given that they're already struggling offensively, ranking last in the league, the potential absence or limited capacity of these scorers could severely hamper their performance. The Clippers, in contrast, are in good health and riding a three-game winning streak. Statistically, Los Angeles has a 6-5 record against the spread and a 7-4 overall record when scoring above 112.4 points. Additionally, they have an ATS record of 6-4 and an 8-2 overall record when holding opponents below 105.5 points. Considering these factors, I expect the Clippers to have a strong showing and comfortably handle Portland on their home court.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Orlando will put its disappointing performance against Cleveland two games ago behind it with a convincing victory over the Cavs at home on Monday night. I don't expect the Magic to shoot the basketball as inefficiently from three-point range and they should have a serious advantage on the glass with Mobley potentially out or playing through a knee injury. Cleveland shot lights out in the last matchup between these teams, which is unlikely to happen twice against Orlando's defense (4th in defensive rating). The Cavs won't shoot the three-ball as well (41.9%) as they did in that game and are unlikely to get enough easy looks around the rim, as the Magic rank ninth in opponent rim FG%.

Rating: 2 Units

This game may be on a neutral court, but St. John's will have the fandom edge based on where it is. Outside of that, they're already a better team. The Red Storm's greatest advantage will be on the glass, which will lead them to a comfortable win. One of the other key separators for this game is that the Red Storm hits 37.1% of their threes, and Boston College only knocks down 33.9%. Considering that both defenses allow opponents to hit more than 37% of their threes, sharpshooting will also make a massive difference. St. John's beats Boston College there too, and will win this game by more than six points.

Rating: 2 Units

The UNC Greensboro Spartans use a very strong offense that is excellent at long distance shooting together with a defense that limits opponents to a low shooting percentage. UNC Greensboro shoots 39.7% from three point land which is 15th best in the nation and holds opponents to a field goal shooting percentage of just 40.4%. UNC Greensboro scores 79.9 points per game and allows 10.5 points less at 70.4 points per game. Elon is scoring an average of 82.8 per game but gives up 77.6 per contest and gives up high shooting percentages as opponents are making 46.3% overall and 32.2% from 3 point land against the Phoenix. Elon has failed to cover the spread in each of the last two while going 1-1 straight up over that span. UNC Greensboro has won each of its last six straight up and is 3-2 ATS over that span, which included a victory straight up over Arkansas as 15-point road dogs.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Friars have won seven of their last nine games and six straight home games. They have played well offensively at home, scoring more than 79 points per game while making over 49 percent of their shots. They rebound the ball well and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They also do a good job of protecting the ball and won’t give the Bears a lot of easy scoring chances. The Bears have struggled defensively and they play worse on the road, giving up more than 73 points per game, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Friars in this game. The Bears have lost eight of their last 11 games and four of their last five road games. They have struggled offensively and barely scored more than 60 points per game in their last three games. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Friars and won’t get a lot of second-chance opportunities against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball on the road, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Friars. The Friars have done a good job defensively, especially at home where they are holding opponents under 65 points per game, so expect them to keep Brown’s offense in check. Go with Providence to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Gonzaga, opening as a 5-point favorite against Washington, seems undervalued in the betting market, which has slightly lowered the spread. This adjustment doesn't sit right with me, considering Gonzaga's distinct edge. While Washington has faced solid competition, Gonzaga is a different caliber, particularly in their dominance over Pac-12 teams, winning their last 16 games against the conference, including 10 by five points or more. Gonzaga's ability to distribute the ball and capitalize on shooting opportunities is notable. They've been particularly strong against Washington, holding a 5-1-1 ATS record in the last seven meetings. With their knack for controlling the pace and an advantage on the offensive glass, Gonzaga is well-positioned for both stops and second-chance points. In this matchup, expect a high-scoring affair, with Gonzaga likely to push the pace before Washington sets up its defense. Their efficient ball movement and rebounding superiority on both ends should lead to another win and cover against Washington. I'm backing Gonzaga to extend their winning streak and cover the spread in this game.

Rating: 2 Units

Notre Dame has been solid defensively but their inability to shoot the ball with any kind of sustained success is going to be a problem here. The Fighting Irish lost both their road games this season, losing by 12 to South Carolina and by 14 to Miami, failing to score more than 52 points in either of those contests. That kind of production isn’t going to get it done against a Marquette team that has put up at least 85 points four times already this season. The Golden Eagles have already beaten Illinois, UCLA, Texas and Kansas while taking Purdue to the limit in a three-point loss in the Maui Invitational last month. Playing at home against an offensively challenged Notre Dame squad works in the Golden Eagles’ favor as they roll to a victory here.

Rating: 2 Units

Los Angeles has played solid basketball but they have yet to run into a team like the Pacers. Indiana can slice and dice teams offensively, as we’ve seen throughout the in-season tournament, led by the explosive Haliburton. Taking down a pair of division leaders in the Celtics and Bucks is no easy feat, much less under the pressure of a knockout stage situation like Indiana has faced. The Pacers seem unflappable and the Lakers, even with their pedigree and the duo of James plus Davis, isn’t going to rattle this Indiana squad. In a game that ends up being decided late, the Pacers’ youth and depth proves critical as they earn the NBA Cup crown. Take the points here to be safe but don’t be surprised if the Pacers win outright.

NCAAB Play of the Day

Rating: 3 Units

The Cougars have won eight straight games. They are playing very well offensively, scoring more than 90 points per game while making over 49 percent of their shots. Their ball movement has been very good and they also very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They also don’t turn the ball over a lot and won’t give the Utes a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Utes have played well defensively at home, but they struggled in recent games and gave up more than 80 points in two of their last three home games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Cougars in this game. The Utes have won three straight games. They are also playing well offensively, scoring more than 90 points per game at home. Their ball movement isn’t very good and they don’t rebound the ball as well as the Cougars, so don’t expect them to get a lot of second-chance opportunities against them. The Cougars force a lot of turnovers and they’re playing well defensively, holding opponents under 60 points per game, so expect them to keep Utah’s offense in check. Go with BYU to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Saint Mary’s plays tough defense, but I don’t want to stand in front of Colorado State. The Rams’ offense has been terrific since the opening night of the season. Colorado State has accounted for at least 81 points in eight of its nine outings this season. Isaiah Stevens looks like one of the best point guards in the country, and the Rams make 62.8% of their 2-pointers (3rd) and 38.8% of their triples (32nd). Colorado State turns the ball over on just 13.4% of its possessions, so I’ll lay six points with the Rams. 

Rating: 3 Units

The Bobcats have been a strong offensive team as they are scoring 79.9 points per game, which is 87th in the nation. However, their defense needs some work as they are 268th in the United States with 74.9 points allowed per game up to this point. The Marshall offense has been doing decently well throughout the season as they are 208th in the country with 73.8 points per game.

Rating: 2 Units

This one could get very ugly this afternoon. The Chippewas come in at 3-5 and struggle to put points on the board. The Creighton Bluejays are 21st in the nation in points per game and are coming off a 29-point thumping of Nebraska at home. The Bluejays are efficient with the basketball, move it well, and rarely give away possessions. In addition, they will battle with a CMU team that is just 246th in the nation in 3-point defense while ranking 22nd in 3-point shooting. Creighton is also ranked fourth in the nation in the percentage of points coming off 3-point field goals. Don't be frightened by this big line, the Bluejays will run away with this one.

Rating: 2 Units

The Toledo Rockets are giving up far too much on defense at a rate of 76.8 points per game but make up for that by scoring an average of 79.3 points per game on an above average 48.3% shooting overall and 38.8% shooting from long distance. Toledo has taken 121 shots from 3-point territory and hit 47, led by Maddox who has made 18 of 47 shots from behind the line. Northern Iowa scores its share of points at 75.7 per game but is also giving up far too many at 75.0 per game. Northern Iowa has struggled against teams from the Mid-American conference, failing to cover the spread in six of the last seven. Toledo has covered the spread in 11 of its last 16 overall and the Rockets have covered the spread in six of the last seven versus a MAC team. Toledo plays a much more uptempo game than Northern Iowa as the Rockets are 105th at 70.5 while Northern Iowa is just 211th at 68.5, which means the Panthers will not keep pace with the Rockets, who will also have an advantage playing at home.

Rating: 2 Units

Malcolm Brogdon exited the Warriors game because of right knee soreness. Jerami Grant (concussion) didn’t play last Wednesday, and he could easily miss the Mavericks game. Anfernee Simmons’ return is a huge boost for the Trail Blazers’ offense, but I cannot go against the Mavs, who just beat Utah by 50 points. The Blazers defend the 3-point line very well, but the Mavs have enough weapons to attack the rim. Dallas will push the ball in transition a lot, and the Trail Blazers will struggle to contain the Mavs in transition. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Bulls will come out on top in this one, as it's a case of two teams going in opposite directions. Chicago has won three in a row and has momentum going for the first time since what seems like last season. For the Spurs, they can't find a win or any piece of success and even with the injuries that Chicago is dealing with, the Spurs will struggle to find answers. Vucevic is a key piece that can disrupt San Antonio's young frontcourt and quickly get them into trouble, while DeRozan is an experienced scorer himself who should have no issues finding offense. The Spurs simply lack of the elite levels on both ends right now for anyone to find much confidence in them. As mentioned, the Bulls have covered the spread in three straight and will make it a fourth in this one.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pistons are a train wreck wrapped in a dumpster fire with a nice coating of Three Mile Island mixed in at this point. Eighteen straight losses have piled up as the Pistons’ last victory came back on October 28 against the Bulls. Going on the road against the Magic here isn’t a good matchup for them as their lone road win came against Charlotte back on October 26. Orlando has dropped two straight after a nine-game win streak but they are taking on a team that has had issues all season long. The Magic is 9-2 at home this season while the Pistons are only 1-9 on the road entering this game. Orlando should take care of business here and get back in the win column.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

This game should be another tight one, although overtime is unlikely to strike again. Dating back to last December, the Nets have taken three trips to Atlanta. They're 1-2 in those contests, with each loss coming by exactly two points. On the court (again) this season, Brooklyn should have the edge in overall shooting (especially from deep) and a slight rebounding edge. Atlanta should win at the free throw line and have a slight advantage with turnovers. This game should be tight, with the Nets potentially pulling out the win. Taking them to cover is the best bet.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating; 2 Units

The Lakers have had Phoenix’s number of late but one has to wonder if they can maintain that momentum here. Los Angeles hasn’t faced the Durant/Booker combination in either meeting this season. In the first matchup, Booker and Beal both missed the contest while in the second meeting, Beal played one of his three games to date while Booker was out. We just saw Booker have a big game against Memphis Saturday night and Durant has been solid as well. The Lakers have their 1-2 punch of Davis and James though you always have to be concerned with the injury bug with those guys. Phoenix is motivated to earn a win here against a team that has beaten them four straight times and they want a shot at the NBA Cup crown. Give the edge to the Suns here as they earn the win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Indiana Hoosiers have won three in a row and their only defeat was against #5 UConn. They have defeated Louisville and Maryland in their last three games. The Michigan Wolverines have dropped four of their last five games with the only victory in that span coming against Stanford. Long Beach State even dealt them an upset loss. The Hoosiers are the superior defensive squad here. They just kept Maryland to 53 points and are only allowing 98.7 points per 100 possessions, compared to 102.7 points per by 100 by the Wolverines according to Ken Pomeroy’s ratings. The Wolverines rank 125th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency. Each of the Hoosiers' last five wins have been by eight or more points.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

New Orleans has had their issues on the road this season, going just 3-6 as the visiting team, including three straight defeats. The Pelicans dropped back-to-back games in Salt Lake City against the Jazz before getting dumped by the Bulls Saturday night. New Orleans beat the Kings twice earlier this season but both those games came at home. Sacramento is a stellar 6-2 at home on the season and they just downed the defending champs Saturday night. New Orleans got a boost to their rotation with the return of Murphy III Saturday night but their road woes against a confident Sacramento team burn them here. Take the Kings as they advance to the semifinals.

Rating: 2 Units

The Houston Rockets are currently facing a challenging phase, having lost their last two games and conceding at least 121 points in each. This streak of losses has brought them down to a .500 record. In a recent matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers in L.A., the Rockets narrowly lost by just one point but managed to cover the spread. The Lakers, on the other hand, have a record of 6-4 against the spread and 7-3 overall when they score more than 107.3 points. Additionally, they are 5-5 against the spread and 8-2 overall when allowing fewer than 110.9 points. Despite LeBron James being listed as questionable, the Lakers are expected to perform strongly in their return home after a four-game road trip. The Rockets, who have not secured a road win this season, are likely to face another setback in this game. It's anticipated that the Lakers will excel on both ends of the floor, securing a win, covering the spread, and handing the Rockets their third consecutive loss.

Rating: 2 Units

The Broncos have done a great job thus far even though they returned just 20.1 percent of minutes and 17.3 percent of scoring from their 2022-23 roster. Per Bart Torvik, Santa Clara is a top-30 team in the nation in both 2-point percentage (57.1%) and opposing 2-point percentage (43.3%). I’ve mentioned the Broncos big win over Oregon, the second of the season against the Pac-12 team (89-77 at Stanford). I think the Broncos have the length to compete against the Bears, who also have a lot of new faces on their roster. Cal turns the ball over on 20.9 percent of its possessions while handing out just 9.1 assists per game. The Broncos are not a great defensive team by any stretch of the imagination, but their offense is 43rd in assists per game (16.8) and 177th in turnover percentage (17.7%). 

Rating: 2 Units

The Denver Nuggets have demonstrated a strong track record in their recent matchups against the Phoenix Suns, securing victories in 4 of their last 6 encounters. Additionally, from a betting perspective, the Nuggets have shown notable consistency, covering the spread in 7 out of their last 10 games against the Suns. Despite the potential disadvantage due to injuries, the Nuggets still hold considerable potential to cover the 2.5-point spread, especially if Devin Booker remains sidelined for the Suns. 

Rating: 2 Units

Experience matters, that's why scheduling a soft non-conference schedule just to pick up some easy wins can be detrimental to the growth of your team. Northwestern has not had the easiest non-conference slate in the land, but they were only listed as underdogs once and lost that game to Mississippi State without covering. Northwestern should have pounded Western Michigan as they were 23.5-point favorites, but only won by four. Purdue on the other hand has played one of the toughest schedules in the country and won every single game. Purdue has defeated three top-15 teams and will roll into their first conference game with confidence. Northwestern has a 7-footer in Nicholson, but he is not an answer to their Edey problem. At 7'4 Edey is still too big and powerful and will dominate inside again. Northwestern's strength is on the perimeter with Boo Buie, but Purdue's Braden Smith is an excellent perimeter defender and will crowd Buie and take away his open looks. Too much talent for the Boilermakers.

Rating: 2 Units

The Blazers were run over in the second half of their last game, but I feel confident predicting a more complete performance from them on Friday at home. UAB ranks as the better offensive and defensive squad, plus it's much more battle-tested. The Eagles have played the 190th-toughest strength of schedule, per KenPom, while the Blazers' schedule is rated 107th-toughest. Having already played Bradley, Clemson, and Maryland, UAB should be able to handle Southern Miss. The Eagles have not shot the basketball efficiently (321st nationally in FG%) and don't focus on one area of the court more than another. Per Hoop-Math, they attempt 34.8% of their shots at the rim, 33.1% from the mid-range, and 32.1% from beyond the arc. That figures to be easier for the Blazers to defend.

Rating: 2 Units

San Antonio has lost 12 straight games and haven’t won since downing the Suns in back-to-back road games October 31 and November 2. The Spurs are a dismal 1-8 at home this season and they are trying to get their young players up to speed, which of course, leads to a lot of growing pains. Atlanta has been up and down this season but they have a variety of guys that can pile up points in a hurry. San Antonio has a generational talent in Wembenyama but he’s still adapting to the NBA style. Meanwhile, Atlanta is a team full of guys that have been around and contributed at this level for a while. Young and Murray lead the way as the Hawks cruise to a victory to get back to the .500 mark on the season.

Rating: 2 Units

The UNC Wilmington offense will overpower the East Carolina defense. The Seahawks are too deadly from long range to be stopped by an inferior defense such as East Carolina’s which is allowing 74.0 points per game and 48.2% shooting. East Carolina’s opponents shoot 34.3% from 3-point territory and UNC Wilmington is second best in the nation from three-point territory hitting 43.5% of their 3-point bombs. Wilmington is averaging 85.7 points per game and it's not because they play uptempo, as they are just 237th in adjusted tempo at 67.8. It's because they are excellent shooters. Leading scorer Trazarien White is shooting 60.6% overall and 36.4% from 3-point territory and three of the top five scorers shot 51.7% or higher. East Carolina doesn't have the shooters to keep pace with the hot shooting Wilmington. East Carolina has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five.

Rating: 2 Units

Fresh off its biggest victory of the young season, Texas Tech takes on another challenge today with a road game against Butler as part of the inaugural Big East-Big 12 Battle. The Red Raiders rolled past Michigan 73-57 last week at the Battle for Atlantis to finish 2-1 at the event. The Bulldogs (5-2) delivered a similar showing in Orlando at the ESPN Events invitational, with back-to-back wins against Penn State and Boise State after a narrow loss to No. 19 Florida Atlantic. Now two teams with reconstructed rosters collide as they work toward establishing a long-term identity. For Texas Tech (5-1), this is the first true road game, and that's a challenge first-year coach Grant McCasland wants his team to embrace.

Rating; 2 Units

This game could easily go either way. Just take a look at the teams’ recent results. The Matadors lost to Le Moyne and embarrassed Mississippi Valley State, while the Tigers barely defeated those two teams at home. Interestingly, each of Pacific’s last four games has been decided by three or fewer points. I’m expecting to see a high-tempo battle between CSUN and Pacific. The Matadors should have enough weapons to keep it close down the stretch, so I’m going with the underdogs. Pacific is struggling to defend the paint which suits CSUN’s style of play. The Matadors are 359th in the country in 3-point rate and 89th in 2-point percentage (53.6%). 

Rating: 2 Units

Facing a degree of uncertainty, the Denver Nuggets are dealing with the potential absence of key players Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Jamal Murray, all listed as questionable for the upcoming game. Despite these concerns, the Nuggets are still favored by 6 points in their home game, a confidence likely bolstered by the Houston Rockets' challenging schedule, as they enter this game without any days of rest. Denver's performance against the spread stands at 7-8, but they have an impressive 12-3 overall record when they score more than 105.5 points in a game. The Rockets, on the other hand, showed a strong effort in their last game against the Mavericks. However, their struggle on the road is evident, having lost all six away games this season. This pattern is expected to continue in their upcoming matchup. The Nuggets, coming off a solid win, are anticipated to maintain their momentum and secure another victory in this encounter.

Rating: 2 Units

La Tech looks to keep its five-game winning streak going on the road against New Mexico. The Bulldogs are 203rd in points per game this season. They are 167th in field goal percentage and 184th in 3-point field goal percentage. The Bulldogs are 55th in the country in points allowed per game. They are 80th in field goal defense and 80th in defensive field goal percentage. They are 63rd in three-point defense in the country. La Tech is 151st in turnovers per game this season. They are an above average rebounding team, ranked 125th in the country in total rebounding.

Rating; 2 Units

The Lakers come into Detroit with a chip on their collective shoulders following a 44-point loss to the Sixers on Monday night. James' cryptic response about the team needing changes quickly should put fear in the hearts of any Laker who doesn't have a firm spot on the roster. In the short term, the Lakers should be able to dominate a Pistons' team that has lost 14 straight games. The Lakers have struggled recently as well, mainly due to injuries to several key bench players such as Vanderbilt, Hachimura, and Vincent. Luckily, the Pistons are also banged up with two key shooters out in Brogdonovich and Harris. The loss of both players has hampered the team's shooting from outside and forced them to be a team that relies on points in the paint. The presence of Davis in the paint should hamper some of those plans on Wednesday night. The Lakers are 3rd in the NBA in field goal percentage and sixth in defensive field goal percentage. I expect them to dominate the game on both ends on Wednesday and pick up an easy win.

Rating: 2 Units

In their first matchup, the Golden State Warriors triumphed over the Sacramento Kings 122-114 without Draymond Green. In their second encounter, the Warriors narrowly won 102-101, but the Kings were missing key player De'Aaron Fox. Draymond Green's absence in the last five games has been felt by the Warriors, particularly in their defense, but his return is expected to bolster the team's offensive opportunities for players like Curry, Thompson, and Wiggins. In the previous games, Domantas Sabonis had a significant impact against the Warriors, and De'Aaron Fox scored 41 points in their first meeting. Both teams have been strong offensively, with the Warriors ranked 12th and the Kings 10th in offensive rating. However, the game's outcome may hinge on the Warriors' defense, currently 12th in the NBA, and the inconsistent performance of the Kings' role players. The return of Draymond Green could elevate the Warriors' defense. The Kings' bench struggled in both meetings, and they may be without starter Keegan Murray due to a back injury. Additionally, the Kings' defensive rating is only 21st in the league. The Warriors, aiming for a three-way tie for first place in In-Season Tournament Group C, will rely on Curry for another strong performance and plan to challenge the Kings by focusing on players other than Sabonis or Fox.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rebels split their last four games. They have played well offensively, scoring more than 72 points per game while making 47 percent of their shots. They rebound the ball well and they’re very active on the offensive glass, which will lead to more scoring opportunities. They also do a good job protecting the ball and won’t give the Zips a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Zips have struggled defensively on the road, giving up more than 70 points per game, and will have a hard time slowing down the Rebels in this game. The Zips have lost two straight games. They have struggled offensively on the road, scoring less than 70 points per game. They also struggled at the charity stripe in recent games, making less than 70 percent of their free throws in their last three games. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Rebels and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances against them. They’re also careless with the ball on the road, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Rebels. The Rebels have done a good job defensively at home, giving up less than 70 points per game, so expect them to keep Akron’s offense in check. Go with UNLV to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

I think the Waves will put an end to their losing streak, but I don’t want to lay all these points with them. Pepperdine’s interior defense has been awful so far this season, and the Waves are traditionally a bad defensive team. The Bengals make 54.2% of their 2-pointers (79th in the nation), so I’m going with Idaho State to beat the number. The Waves lean on their 3-point shooting, and the Bengals’ defense is 13th in the nation in 3-point rate (27.8) and 4th in 3-point percentage (29.3). Idaho State will look to slow the pace down as much as possible and force Pepperdine into half-court basketball. I’m expecting the Bengals to hang around down the stretch. 

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Marquette (5-1) went 2-1 in the stacked Maui Invitational field, including taking down then-No. 1 Kansas before coming up short in the championship game to then-No. 2 Purdue by a 78-75 final. The Boilermakers are now the top-ranked team in the country. The Golden Eagles trailed by as many as 15 in the second half against Purdue and got within one before the comeback bid stalled. Marquette's Tyler Kolek led the way with 22 points, along with seven rebounds and six assists, while Kam Jones added 17 points. Southern (1-5) arrives on a four-game losing streak, most recently falling 71-59 on the road at Valparaiso on Saturday. Marquette is 2-0 against Southern since the 2013-14 season, with the last matchup in 2018 when Marquette won in an 84-41 blowout in Milwaukee.

Rating: 2 Units

The Thunder come in just a game behind Minnesota in this one and will not only cover the spread but will come out with the win too. The Thunder have been able to put it all together on both ends of the court and have the length to match the Timberwolves, which is something many others have struggled with. The Thunder have the best player in this game in SGA and with Holmgren coming along nicely too, especially from the perimeter, it gives this team quite a few more options to lean on. The key advantage for Oklahoma City is on the offensive end, where they are one of the league's most efficient teams, which translates well to success on the road. They have confidence and momentum, and their youngsters won't be daunted being on the road, while covering the spread in all but one of their last seven games, shows a trend building.

Rating: 2 Units

Utah State looked impressive at a neutral site, but giving up 6.5 points on the road is different. The Aggies are proud of their in-season tournament championship, as they should be, but the field in the Cayman Islands Classic was watered down. Defeating teams like Marshall, Akron and Stephen F. Austin does not do much to improve your resume. Keep in mind, Utah State has only played one true road game this season, and lost on the road to Bradley. Saint Louis is undefeated at home on the season, they have a chance to spring an upset on their home floor, but taking the 6.5 points is still the play. Utah State's offense is only ranked 102nd in the nation, and their tempo is 182nd; they do not score with great efficiency or play at a break-neck pace. Utah State will not run up the score here, they lost their only road game, and Saint Louis is undefeated at home. Hargrove Jr. and Jimerson provide the Billikens with a strong enough inside-out game to keep this close.

Rating: 2 Units

The Milwaukee Bucks have had their difficulties with the Heat, going 2-2 last season during the regular season but losing in five games in the opening round of the playoffs to the Heat. In fact, the Bucks are now 0-3 in their last four games in Miami. The Heat have not just won the four games, they've done so handily in each case. The four home wins against the Bucks have come by an average of just over 12.5 points per contest. While Lillard's presence changes the dynamic somewhat, the Bucks lose a key defender like Jrue Holiday in the process. Holiday was capable of guarding both the point guard and Jimmy Butler at times but the Bucks won't have that luxury with Lillard, an inferior defender to Holiday. I like the Heat to exploit their matchup advantages in this game and pull out a win over the Bucks. If you are feeling aggressive, forego the points and take this game on the money line.

Rating: 2 Units

With its Big 12-Big East Battle matchup at Georgetown set for Saturday, TCU has one last tune-up tonight as the Horned Frogs welcome Houston Christian to Fort Worth, Texas, aiming to keep their undefeated season intact. TCU (5-0) is coming off a 93-74 win over Alcorn State last Tuesday. Houston Christian is winless in four games, though the Huskies lost twice by single digits.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Bucks have won six of their last seven games and six straight home games. They have played well offensively, scoring more than 121 points per game while making over 49 percent of their shots. They are one of the best rebounding teams in the league, and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They have also protected the ball well and won’t give the Trailblazers a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Trailblazers aren’t very good defensively and they play worse on the road where they are giving up more than 114 points per game, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Bucks in this game. The Trailblazers have lost eight of their last nine games and four straight road games. They have struggled offensively on the road, scoring less than 110 points per game. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Bucks and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Bucks, who average more than seven steals per game. The Bucks aren’t great defensively, but they play better at home, so expect them to keep Portland’s offense in check. Go with Milwaukee to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Texas has the advantage of playing at home against a Wyoming team that hasn't had a true road test yet. Wyoming hasn't played a team close to this tough either. Along with that, the Longhorns need to bounce back from their first loss. All of that is to say, that Texas should blow out the Cowboys. The Longhorns have a defense that will completely stymie Wyoming. Texas will also control the rebounding battle. Nobody is stopping Texas from scoring, and that won't change on Sunday. Take Texas to cover.

Rating: 2 Units

I have renewed confidence in the Cardinals following their strong showing in New York City. They were in position to win both games and truly had the 19th-ranked Longhorns on the ropes before falling on a last-second shot. That confidence should carry over in this spot against a New Mexico State team that has struggled on both ends of the court this season. The Aggies have had difficulty scoring, shooting, and defending the opposition. Louisville has been above average defending the opposition this season, ranking 170th in defensive field goal percentage and 134th in 3-point defense. The biggest differential in this game is rebounding. Louisville is 50th in the nation while the Aggies are just under 300th in the nation. The Cardinals should dominate the glass and dominate the interior.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating; 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

BYU seeks its second 5-0 start in the past three seasons when it faces Arizona State on Thursday night in the opening round of the Vegas Showdown at Las Vegas. 4It isn't hard to pinpoint the most impressive of the Cougars' four straight wins. They took down then-No. 17 San Diego State, a national finalist last season, 74-65 on Nov. 10 in Provo, Utah. BYU is coming off a 93-50 rout of Morgan State on Nov. 18. It marked the third time the Cougars won by more than 40 points this season. Jaxson Robinson led BYU with 19 points, and Fousseyni Traore added 17 in the balanced attack that features seven players averaging at least nine points per game and five in double digits.

Rating: 2 Units

The Clippers have won two straight games. They are playing well offensively, averaging more than 112 points per game. They are very good at rebounding the ball and very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They also do a good job protecting the ball and won’t give the Spurs a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Spurs have struggled offensively this season and they've given up at least 120 points in four straight games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Clippers in this game. The Spurs have lost nine straight games and six straight home games. They have struggled offensively and scored less than 110 points in three of their last four games. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Clippers and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring chances. They have also been very careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Clippers, who averaged more than 11 steals per game in their last three games. The Clippers have played well defensively, giving up less than 105 points per game in their last three games, so expect them to keep San Antonio’s offense in check. Go with Los Angeles to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

The Princeton Tigers are hot. They have won all four games this season including a 68-61 win against Rutgers of the Big Ten. Old Dominion has not looked good. Their only win occurred against a non-DI opponent in the season opener. They have since lost two straight games. Princeton is a potent offensive squad. They are averaging 110.4 points per 100 possessions, ranking them 50th out of 360 teams in adjusted offensive efficiency. This is superior to Old Dominion who is only averaging 104 points per 100. The Tigers are playing stellar defense, conceding 67 or fewer points in all four games. They have covered in all four games and I expect another convincing win.

Rating: 2 Units

Until someone stops this offense, roll with the Seahawks to decimate every foe in their path. Especially since they're hitting 50.7% of their triples. App State has struggled to defend the three-point line, which will bite them in this matchup. On the other end, the Mountaineers' inefficiencies offensively will make it impossible to keep up. Even when they have golden chances for buckets, they aren't a lock to convert. UNCW has too much firepower, which is why they'll win and cover in this one.

Rating: 2 Units

The Los Angeles Clippers, despite being the superior team on paper, have faced their own set of challenges, losing 6 out of their last 7 games. Their sole victory in this stretch was clinched by a last-second three-pointer from James Harden. Adding to their woes, the Clippers haven't secured a single road win this season. While backing the San Antonio Spurs isn't particularly appealing, the prospect of favoring the Clippers with a significant point spread on the road (-9) is equally unenticing. In this scenario, opting for the Spurs with the points seems like the more prudent choice. It's noteworthy that when the Clippers score over 124.2 points, their record against the spread is 0-2, mirroring their overall record in such high-scoring games.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rockets dismantled the Lakers last week, but Los Angeles missed Anthony Davis. Houston outscored the Lakers 68-42 in the paint while going 14-for-33 from downtown, whereas Los Angeles made just seven of its 25 shots from deep. Since then, the Lakers have gone 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS, though two of those four wins have come against Portland. The Lakers should have learned the lesson, so I’m backing them to beat the Rockets and cover a 5.5-point spread. Davis has struggled a bit of late, but his presence should help the Lakers to outlast Houston this time around. This is not the same Rockets team that lost 60 games last season. But they are still young and inexperienced, and the Rockets have gone 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS over their three road contests in 2023-24. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Spurs will have to deal with fatigue on the second night of a back-to-back set which is the only reason why am I taking the Grizzlies to cover. Frankly, this is the clash between a couple of slumping teams, and it could go either way, but the Grizzlies had three days to prepare themselves for the Spurs. In addition, Memphis looks like a better defensive team than San Antonio, though by a slight margin. Hopefully, the Grizzlies will extend their dominance over the Spurs and beat the number along the way.

Rating; 2 Units

The Lakers are 2-0 in an inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, looking to make another step toward the knock-out round. The Trail Blazers have gone 1-1 thus far and will have a mountain to climb in this matchup given their injury woes. Portland has dropped five straight games by an average margin of 10.2 points. If Malcolm Brogdon misses his fourth straight game, the Lakers will have a nice chance to cover an 8.5-point spread. Los Angeles is 6-0 ATS in its last six games played on Friday, and I’m expecting the Lakers to extend this streak. 

Rating: 2 Units

In a game that should be low-scoring, the Brooklyn Nets have an excellent chance of pulling off a road upset. Their offense is much better, especially when it comes to hitting threes. Brooklyn attempts a high volume of threes and is the league's third-most accurate team. The Heat have allowed opponents to hit 38.6% of their triples. Unless Miami takes fewer midrange shots, they won't shoot well in this one. The Nets are top 10 at forcing midrange misses and three-point misses. Both defenses are solid, so it'll come down to making shots. Brooklyn has that advantage, and it should lead them to a sixth straight win over the Heat.

Rating: 2 Units

I like the Suns to pull away in this game thanks to the return of Booker to the starting lineup and Gordon off of the bench. The duo should allow the Suns to spread the floor against a Timberwolves team playing the second game of a back-to-back and coming off a highly emotional game with the Warriors. Durant should get more minutes of rest in this one with his all-star teammate back and Beal should continue to improve as he gets his wind up after missing the entire season prior to last week. Minnesota has been red-hot but I think it will be too hard for them to muster up the emotions needed in this one.

Rating: 2  Units

The Nuggets will be making do without point guard Jamal Murray for the rest of the month of November as he recovers from a hamstring strain. So far so good for the champs with Reggie Jackson filling in nicely at point guard, primarily as a scorer with Jokic handling the passing duties. The Clippers still look like a team trying to figure things out with just one ball for several aging stars. Tyronne Lue must determine the best rotations to get his four veterans on the floor in the right situations. Malone's job for Denver is much easier with everything going through Jokic. Jokic has two triple-doubles in the three games that Murray has missed thus far as he takes a more prominent role in distributing the ball. Denver's defense has also been excellent this season and they should be looking forward to defending a Clippers team that looks disjointed right now. The Clippers have also been sloppy with the basketball and that should also feed into the Nuggets' offense. The most disheartening thing for the Clippers thus far has been their feeble record despite having one of the easiest schedules to start the season, ranking 28th in the league. Go with the Nuggets who will have more possessions, ranking 6th in turnovers, and knock down more shots with the league's top field goal percentage.

Rating: 2 Units

The Kings have been able to win each of the last two games without Fox but are just 2-3 overall without him this season. The Cavs offer a challenging matchup with a very quick guard in Darius Garland who can fill it up from long range and at the basket. He will force the Kings to offer help on him which should open the floor up a bit for Mitchell. The Cavs will also take advantage of a slower-paced Kings team without Fox. They are sixth in the NBA in fastbreak points and should be able to get up and down the floor against the Kings. The Cavs have also played the fifth toughest schedule in the NBA thus far compared to the Kings, who have played the 25th toughest schedule.

Rating: 2 Units

This is a great spot to back Milwaukee. The Bucks just lost two gams on the road, and return home hungry for a win. You cannot keep Giannis and the Bucks down for long, and Giannis has proven he only needs a little help to get things done. The Bulls do not have an answer for Antetokounmpo, Lavine and DeRozan are too small, and Vucevic is not quick enough to stay with him. That leaves Patrick Williams, who was benched for his poor play, or Torrey Craig to matchup with the former MVP. Add on top of this, Chicago is on the tail end of a back to back. The Bulls play a home game on Sunday night, then must travel to Milwaukee for this game the next night. Teams rarely play well on the second night of back-to-backs, and Chicago has not been playing well this season to begin with. Bucks return to home, will face a tired Chicago team, and get back in the win column after a couple losses.

Rating: 2 Units

The injury-depleted Trail Blazers will have a mountain to climb at Crypto.com Arena. I’ve mentioned their offensive struggles and if Malcolm Brogdon doesn’t suit up, the Lakers will come out on top with ease. Frankly, the Lakers have struggled so far this season, allowing 114.2 points per 100 possessions (tied-19th in the NBA). The Trail Blazers surrender 109.8 points per 100 possessions (9th) mostly because they defend the 3-point line well (33.7%, 7th), but the Lakers don’t lean on 3-point shooting and will attack the rim all night long in this matchup. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Cavs won on the back of their defense, holding the Warriors to 36.2% shooting from the field. Golden State went 16-for-41 from deep but was outscored 58-24 in the paint. Furthermore, the Warriors missed ten of their 30 free-throw attempts, and they should improve in front of the home audience. The Cavs’ interior defense is one of the best in the NBA. But they struggle to defend the 3-point line and own the eighth-worst defensive rebound percentage (74.5%). The Warriors should’ve learned the lesson. They need to speed things up and force the Cavs to run up and down the floor. 

Rating: 2 Units

Devin Booker will probably miss his fourth straight game due to an injury, but I’m still backing the Suns even if Anthony Davis suits up for the Lakers. Phoenix blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead in that five-point defeat at the Lakers in Week 1, playing without both Booker and Bradley Beal, and I’m expecting the Suns to get revenge in front of the home audience. The Lakers are 2-8 ATS in their last ten games overall, 1-6 ATS in their previous seven contests against the Western Conference, and 3-9 ATS in their last 12 tilts against the Suns. Phoenix is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in its last five home meetings with the Lakers. 

Rating: 2 Units

Both teams come in off losses in their previous game and one has to wonder if the altitude of Mexico City will take a toll on them. If that is the case, Atlanta has the healthier rotation to work with as Orlando is without Carter Jr. while a trio of other contributors are questionable here. The Hawks are an explosive offensive team while Orlando has relied on defense to have success in the early going. This seems like one of those games where Murray and Young lead the way for Atlanta. The Hawks have eight guys averaging in double figures and with the Magic banged up, they don’t have the weapons offensively to keep up in this contest.

Rating: 2 Units

Dillon Brooks told the media that he is ready to lock down LeBron James. Last time Brooks tried these mind games the Lakers sent Brooks' Grizzlies home from the playoffs, and the Grizzlies were so upset they said they would not take Brooks back under any circumstance. LeBron may not say it publicly, but he feeds off this stuff. LeBron is highly motivated to be recognized as the best player of all time, and goes hard whenever he is challenged. This is also a tough spot to catch the Lakers, they are healthy, on a two-game losing streak, and believe they got robbed in the last game by the refs. Referees are human, do not be surprised if they over-correct here and send LeBron to the line 16-20 times. The Rockets are not a deep team, they get barely any production outside of their starting lineup, and they gave everything they had to beat Sacramento twice. The Lakers are the better team analytically, their offensive and defensive efficiency ranks much higher than Houston's and they just poked the bear with the LeBron comments.

Rating: 2 Units

Baylor lost a lot after last season, which will be hard to replicate early. Four of their five starters are gone, which took 68% of Baylor's scoring with them. The team's offense carried them in the 2022-23 campaign, and there's reason to doubt if the many newcomers can match last year's offense. Improving defensively is a massive question mark too. Looking at Auburn, they were a much more balanced team last season. They lost two key players, but most of last year's rotation is back. That continuity will be massive to begin the season, especially on the defensive end. The Tigers will come out roaring and earn an early Quadrant 1 win.

Rating: 2 units 

Sacramento was a force last season as they won the Pacific Division title while their run and gun offense was a force. This season, they have had their struggles shooting the ball, entering Sunday fourth-worst in the league in field goal percentage as a team. Without Fox, it puts a lot of pressure on Mitchell to try and step up to be a facilitator. Houston has looked good in their last two games, wins over Charlotte and Sacramento, and look to make it three straight wins at home. This Rockets team won’t be the same pushover they have been in recent seasons. If Fox was playing, the Kings would be the easy call here but without him, Sacramento muddles their way through. Take the Rockets at home in this one.

Rating: 2 Units

The league leaders in offensive rating will be visiting the leaders in defensive rating tonight as the Boston Celtics visit the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Celtics offense has been outstanding as they are averaging 126.4 points per game, nearly 4 more than the next best side. They also rank 3rd in 3-point shooting percentage, and that ability to attack from the outside is what will cause the Timberwolves the most issues here. With Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford both being effective shooters, it should help pull Rudy Gobert away from the basket, opening driving lanes. The hosts are also bottom of the NBA in 3-point percentage themselves. It has left them making close to 6 fewer 3-pointers per game than the Celtics, and that will be tough to overcome. The addition of Porzingis has turned the Celtics into a force on the defensive end too. The rim protection he provides has left them allowing fewer paint points to opponents than the Timberwolves currently do. With the visitors also in the top 10 in the league in fast break points per game, they should have success pushing the tempo and beating the hosts rim protectors down the floor. It looks like it could be a long night for the Timberwolves defense, so back the Celtics to cover the relatively small spread.

Rating: 2 Units

The Trailblazers have won three straight games. They don’t have a high-scoring offense, but they played better offensively during their winning streak, averaging 108 points per game. They’ve taken advantage of their chances at the charity stripe, making over 80 percent of their free throws. Their rebounding has been good and they’re aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. The Grizzlies were one of the best defensive teams in the league last season, but they haven’t looked good so far, and they’re giving up more than 120 points per game on the road, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Trailblazers in this game. The Grizzlies have lost six straight games and three straight road games. They have struggled offensively on the road where they are scoring less than 110 points per game. They also struggled at the charity stripe and barely made over 70 percent of their free throws in their last three games. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Trailblazers and they’ve been careless with the ball, turning it over more than 15 times per game, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Trailblazers, who are averaging more than nine steals per game in their last three games. With the Blazers holding opponents under 105 points per game in their last three games, expect them to keep Memphis’ offense in check. Go with Portland to win outright.

Rating: 2 Units

Both teams are playing the second game of a back-to-back situation here and their third game in four nights so fatigue could be a factor. Obviously, you’ll have to keep an eye out to see if any of the star players on either side sit out, which would obviously change the dynamic. With that said, the Nuggets are the defending champions and they have one of, if not the, top player in the league with Jokic. Denver is stingy defensively, extremely efficient on the offensive end of the floor and they have the better talent to work with compared to Chicago. We’ve seen the Bulls struggle to shoot the ball with any consistency this season. Look for the Nuggets to prevail at home for this contest.

Rating: 2 Units

I'll gladly take Dallas to cover, with Denver coming off a blowout loss and dealing with injuries to stars Murray and Jokic! The Mavs have the third-highest schedule-adjusted offensive rating, including the fourth-highest effective field goal percentage (58.2%). They have been especially dominant in the paint (67.7 rim FG%) and from three-point range (41.0%). I expect Doncic (33.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, and 9.8 APG) to have another monster game, leading the Mavs to an easy cover against the Nuggets.

Rating: 2 Units

The Jazz will be rested and ready to go despite playing the second game of a back-to-back tonight. They will also challenge the Magic's preference for a slower-paced game won in the paint by spacing the floor and forcing Orlando to defend well outside the paint. Orlando is playing the fourth and final game of this trip and is 1-2 thus far, losing each of the last two contests. Orlando's defense has progressively gotten worse on the trip highlighted by the 118 points allowed against the Clippers. The Jazz were able to defeat the Clippers earlier this season because of their ability to match the scoring of LA from long range. Expect the Jazz to stretch the floor and keep the Magic off balance on Thursday night to pick up the home win.

Rating: 2 Units

Both teams could be without key players, as Irving and LaVine are questionable to play. That said, even without Kyrie, I believe the Mavs have the talent to cover at home. This season, Dallas is seventh in schedule-adjusted offensive rating, fourth in effective field goal percentage, ninth in rim FG%, and fourth in three-point shooting percentage. That is partially due to the great start by Doncic, who is averaging 39.0 points on 55.6 percent shooting, including 48.6 percent shooting from three. The 24-year-old is also leading the team in rebounds (11.7) and assists (9.7). The team is also benefiting from solid contributions by Tim Hardaway Jr. (19.0 PPG), who should fill in just fine if Irving can't suit up. Chicago is a pretty good team, but it's likely to struggle without its leading scorer, LaVine (24.5 PPG). Even with the veteran shooter, the Bulls are dead last in effective field goal percentage (46.5%), 24th in rim FG% (57.8%), 25th in mid-range FG% (35.7%), and 26th in three-point FG% (29.4%). That won't be easy to fix on the road, even if LaVine can play.

Rating: 2 Units

Even playing for the second straight day, whereas the Jazz are rested, home-court advantage should neutralize that aspect. Then, it's simply a question of whether or not the Jazz defense can stop Denver's offense. The answer based on what has transpired this season is an emphatic no. The Nuggets offense, currently the best in adjusted offensive rating, won't struggle to score at all against Utah. Scoring won't come as easy for the Jazz, who won't get many good looks from deep against Denver. A 4-0 start comes easily for the Nuggets.

Rating: 2 Units

The Spurs have been turning the ball over a lot thus far. Also, their defense has struggled a lot, so I’m backing the Clippers to bounce back from a tough loss in Salt Lake City. Los Angeles should play better defense in front of the home audience and take full advantage of the Spurs’ D. San Antonio has allowed a staggering 132 points in the paint through its first two outings in 2023-24, and the Spurs will struggle to contain the Clippers’ drives to the hoop. The Clippers went 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS against the Spurs last regular season. San Antonio has only covered once in its last four road games against the Clippers, who trounced the Spurs 138-100 in their previous encounter at Crypto.com Arena. 

I'm going to assume that Booker misses this game, because there's no reason to play him with an injury that could linger and needs rest. In that case, Durant will have to score 40 in this one and while he might, his supporting cast is very weak without Booker and Beal. Markkanen, in a lot of ways, is a poor man's Durant, in the way he can score at that size and Collins gives them another capable big man scorer. That sizeable frontcourt will be difficult to defend for the smaller Suns.