The set-up: The Raptors saw the Bucks come into Air Canada Centre for Game 1 of this series and win by 14 points. That was not exactly something new, as the Raptors are now 0-9 in opening games of first-round playoff series (also just 1-11 in Game 1s of any series). However, the Raptors did bounce back to win their first two playoff series last postseason after losing Game 1 and Toronto was able to even this series in Game 2 by winning 106-100 (non-cover). The series now shifts to Milwaukee for the next two games and the pressure is now on the Bucks to 'hold serve.'

Toronto: After an 'ugly' Game 1 (2 of 11 for four points), PG Kyle Lowry scored 22 points and backcourt mate Demar DeRozan has averaged 25 points and 7.5 rebounds in the first two games. However, the 'star' of Game 2 for Toronto was its pressure-packed defense which held Giannis Antetokounmpo to shoot 9-of-24 from the floor, despite scoring 24 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. "The Greek Freak" made 13-of-18 shots in Game 1! The Raptors rely heavily on their two All Star guards but let's not forget Serge Ibaka, the trade deadline pickup from Orlando, who has averaged 17.5 & 10.5 in the first two games, while shooting a team-best 48.3% from the floor.

Milwaukee: Antetokounmpo knows he will need to make adjustments to deal with Toronto's change in defensive tactics. "They didn't allow me to go in the paint," he told reporters. "Every time I drove the ball, everybody was sucking into the paint. They were more physical. I still have to make the right plays and try to find my teammates." While Antetokounmpo struggled in Game 2, it was good news that SG Khris Middleton scored 20 points, after struggling to 10 on 4-of-15 shooting in the opener. Head coach Jason Kidd's rotation changed slightly down the stretch in Game 2 as he left Tony Snell on the bench while using PGs Malcolm Brogdon and Matthew Dellavedova in tandem. The move raised some eyebrows, but Kidd insisted that it was just a matter of matchups and rhythm and nothing against Snell, who played only 21 minutes.

The pick: Could it be as simple as this? The Raptors shot 5-of-23 in the opener from three-point range and lost by 14. They were 14-of-29 from three-point range in Game 2 and won by five. The Bucks are hoping to capitalize on a raucous home-court advantage to pull ahead in the series, but Kidd has been urging his young squad to not get too comfortable in front of its home crowd. "You can't think about having two games at home," Kidd said. "You have to stay in the moment. We're all excited to be home. For us, we had an opportunity in Game 2. We had some good looks at the end, but the ball didn't fall for us. We're focused on the first possession of Game 3 and trying to find a way to win." The Milwaukee Bucks haven't won a playoff series since the 2000-01 season and I'm backing the more playoff-tested Raptors in this one. Make Toronto a 10* play.

The set-up: The Wizards own a strong starting-five and all reached double digits in the team's 114-107 Game 1 win over the Hawks. All-Star PG John Wall scored a playoff career-high 32 points to go with 14 assists and while SG Bradley Beal went 2-of-11 from three-point range, he added 22 points. Washington was able to pull off the seven-point win despite sending the Hawks to the free-throw line 39 times (Atlanta made 32). "The difference in the game was we were playing basketball and they were playing MMA," Atlanta forward Paul Millsap told reporters. "They were physical. When the game is like that, we have to match their physicality. But again, we've got to go get some moves and bring them back to the court." Washington likely has no intention of letting up after watching its aggression lead to 69 second-half points in the Game 1 win.

Atlanta: Head coach Mike Budenholzer knows his team can't commit 21 turnovers again, or allow 25 fast-break points! "Transition. Same since day one. If we do not get back, it is going to be hard for us to win games, so they took advantage of that," Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. said. "John Wall is a blur out there, and when you have (Beal) and Otto Porter out there ... when he is in transition, those are his outlets. You know he puts so much pressure whenever he has those outlets and he knocks those shots down, it is kind of hard to (cover him)." The Hawks have spent the past two days of practice focusing on correcting just that. We'll see. Also, the Hawks are going to need more than seven points from center Dwight Howard, who had finished the regular season with a streak of 13 straight double-digit scoring efforts.

Washington: The Wizards trailed 48-45 at halftime in Game 1 but with Wall in control, the Wizards outscored Atlanta 38-28 in the third quarter and led by as many as 15 points in the fourth. Help came in the form of 22 points from Beal and 21 from Morris, who also had four blocked shots. The Wizards could always use some extra help off the bench and they anticipate having center Jason Smith (knee) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) available for Game 2, as both returned to practice Tuesday after sitting out Monday's session.

The pick: Washington's Game 1 win lifted them to 31-11 SU at home this season and that's after opening the season 5-6 SU at home. Atlanta lost Game 1 to Washington in the 2015 Eastern Conference semifinals before recovering to win the series on six games. However, that Atlanta team was the East's No. 1 seed, while this year's edition is a No. 5 seed, which ended the regular season on a 6-10 run. Make Washington an 8* play.

The set-up: Utah center Rudy Gobert (14.0 & 12.8) had a breakout season in 2016-17 and was a huge reason the Jazz returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. However, he suffered a knee injury on the opening possession Saturday's Game 1 against the Clippers. The game was an emotional roller coaster for the Jazz but all's well that ends well and veteran reserve Joe Johnson's buzzer-beater lifted the Jazz to a 97-95 victory in the opener of this best-of-seven series. Meanwhile, the Clippers are left to wonder just how they lost the homecourt advantage in the series by falling to a Utah team in Game 1 at Staples Center playing without its starting center? "The series doesn’t start until somebody loses at home," guard Chris Paul told reporters after producing 25 points and 11 assists. "I guess that [loss] started it. … Now we've got to see what we're made of."

Utah: Gobert's status for the rest of the series is in doubt. "I don't think we're ready to say today, tomorrow, a week, two weeks," head coach Quin Snyder told reporters. "I think it's literally that wide open." Johnson led all Utah scorers with 21 points plus Favors added 15 points off the bench, as well. Utah's best player, SF Gordon Hayward (21.9 & 5.4), had 19 & 10, and the team's new PG, George Hill (16.9 & 4.2 APG), added 16 points. Utah's reserves outscored LA's 47-20!

LA Clippers: The Clippers are insisting that there is no need to panic following the Game 1 loss."A lot of guys have played enough playoff games to know it's truly a series," forward Blake Griffin told the Los Angeles Times. "Everybody says that. But we've been up 2-0 several times and lost a series [to Portland]. We've been up 3-1 and lost a series [to Houston]. We've lost a first game and won a series. So it doesn't really matter, you know?" Griifin must be in denial. The Clippers' playoff history is filled with nothing but failure and as for Chris Paul, who so many think so much of, he's never even played on a team which has won a second round playoff series. Let that sink in! Griffin (26 & 7), Paul (25 & 11 assists) and Jordan (10 & 15) all had good stats but the Clippers struggled to free up their shooters, as guards J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford combined for 15 points on 7-of-19 shooting, including 1-of-7 from three-point range. Then there was LA's bench getting pummeled by Utah's, 47-20!

The pick: Should LA bounce back and take Game 2? The Clippers should but I'll take the points and make Utah an 8* play.

The set-up: The Spurs allowed the Grizzlies to score 30 points in the first quarter of their Game 1 series but Memphis never had more than 19 points in any of the final three quarters, with An Antonio pulling away for a 111-82 win. "They just took over the game," Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph told reporters. "They started to hit shots and put pressure on us. We couldn’t get the ball where we wanted to get it. We just couldn’t get shots." A 19-0 run over a five-minute span bridging the third and fourth quarters turned the reasonably tight contest into a rout.Kawhi Leonard (25.5 & 5.8) not surprisingly led all Spurs with 32 points plus Popovich had to like Parker (just 10.1 PPG on the season) looking 'young again" with 18 points in minutes.

Memphis: The key to San Antonio disrupting Memphis was getting PG Mike Conley out of his rhythm. Parker helped in that regard, as Conley (20.5 & 6.3 APG) managed just 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting. "They forced other guys to handle the ball," Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale told reporters. "We went over it, we expected it, but we just didn't respond well to it. I thought Mike missed some chippies in there in the paint. But give them credit; they really turned the game around defensively against us." In an overall poor offensive effort by Memphis, the bright spot was center Marc Gasol (19.5 & 6.2), who scored 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting.

San Antonio: Leonard and PF LaMarcus Aldridge (20 points / six rebounds) were the only players to log more than 25 minutes for San Antonio on Saturday, so "Pop's" team will be well rested. "The best part was the team keeping its composure, not going off in different directions and just trying to do what he planned execution-wise on both ends of the floor," Popovich said. "I thought we got better as the game went on."

The pick: The Spurs rested their starters for the entire fourth quarter, which could be a huge advantage in a series that is expected to be a physical one between grind-it-out teams. Still, Memphis was awful after the first quarter, yet trailed just 74-64 with 1:53 to play in the third quarter. Memphis scored only 33 points in the second half and missed nine of its 10 three-point attempts after halftime. Memphis will be better in Game 2. The Spurs were just 19-22 ATS at home during the regular season and I'll take the points here with The Grizz. Make Memphis an 8* play.

The set: The OKC Thunder against the Houston Rockets (Westbrook vs. Harden) is one of two excellent opening round series in the West. The Jazz and Clippers is the other and that one didn't disappoint Saturday night, with the Jazz edging the Clippers 97-95 on a game-winning buzzer beater! Westbrook and Harden are the two leading MVP candidates (Kawhi seems left out and I'm not sure why?) and for that reason alone, this has to be the first round's most appealing. The Thunder went 47-36 (No. 6 seed) and the Rockets had a 55-27 regular season mark, giving them the West's No. 3 seed but also note that Houston also owns a better record than any team in the East, as well

Oklahoma City: Westbrook led the NBA in scoring (31.6), ranked third in assists (10.4) and was 10th in rebounding (10.7) to join Oscar Robertson (1961-62) as the lone players to average a triple-double over an entire season. He also had 42 triple-doubles during the season to break the Big O's single-season record of 41. OKC was 33-9 in his triple-double games but head coach Billy Donovan is well aware that OKC will need more than Westbrook to advance in the playoffs. There is no doubt that Oklahoma City is armed to the teeth with bigs in Steven Adams, Enes Kanter, Taj Gibson and Domantas Sabonis.

Houston. The Rockets were just 41-41 last season with Harden and the unhappy Howard not meshing. With Howard gone to Atlanta, Harden made this "his team" and Houston won 14 more games this season. Harden finished second in scoring (29.1), led the NBA in assists (11.2) and averaged 8.1 rebounds during the regular season and he is eager to compete with the tenacious Westbrook. Houston set an NBA record with 1,181 three-point FGs, an average of 14.4 per game. Harden (262) led the way, while backup SG Eric Gordon (246) and forward Ryan Anderson (205) all over 200. SF Trevor Ariza (190), just missed that mark.

The pick: Here's the rub. While the Rockets "fill the air" with three-point attempts, they finished just 15th in three-point percentage (35.7). The Thunder led the NBA in rebound percentage (53.4) but managed only a plus-1.8 rebounding margin against the Rocket, losing three of four. Obviously, OKC.was unable to overwhelm the Rockets with its advantage in size and bulk during the regular season. However, Houston was unable to stop Westbrook, who averaged 36.3 points, 9.3 assists and nine rebounds against Houston. Meanwhile, Harden experienced some struggles against OKC, averaging just 20.5 points on 34.3 percent shooting. Like with the Jazz/Clippers, the points could be YUGE. Make OKC a 10* play in Game 1.

The set-up: The 49-33 Washington Wizards did win the franchise's first division title since the 1978-79 season in winning this year's Southeast title but the Wizards enter the playoffs having lost five of eight. The team's late-season "mini slump" (just 8-9 since March 13th) saw them fall to the East's No. 4 seed and the team will open the postseason with Southeast Division rival, Atlanta. The 43-39 Hawks know all about poor play the last 1 1/2 months, as they lost nine of 11 from Mar. 13 through Apr. 2nd, before the return of All-Star power forward Paul Millsap helped the team turn things around. The Hawks secured the No. 5 seed with four straight wins, then lost their meaningless regular season finale at Indiana, while resting most of the its key players. .

Atlanta: Millsap (18.1 & 7.7) scored over 20 points in two of the four games after his return but was limited to an average of 16 points on 41.5 percent shooting in three games against Washington this season. Center Dwight Howard was pretty much a forgotten man this season but averagd a double-double at 13.5 points and 12.7 boards. He will playing in his 90th career playoff game in Tuesday's Game 2. on Tuesday. Dennis Schroeder (17.9 & 6.3 APG) ably replaced Teague at PG and no player on the Hawks benefited more from Korver's trade to the Cavs than Hardaway, who was one of the NBA's most improved players this season (ended the season averaging 14.5 PPG). Injuries shook up the team's lineup the second half of the season and the Hawks are expected to start SG Tim Hardaway and SF Taurean Prince, while bringing former starters SF Thabo Sefolosha and SF Kent Bazemore off the bench.

Washington: The Wizards own a clear backcourt advantage with Wall (23.1 & 10.7 APG) and Beal (23.1), plus all three frontcourt players average in double figures. Center Gortat (10.8 & 10.4) is surrounded by forwards Morris (14.0 & 6.5) and Porter (13.4 & 6.4) . A lack of scoring off the bench was addressed at the trade deadline, with the acquisition of Bojan Bogdanovic, who averaged 12.7 PPG in 26 games with Washington. Backup center Ian Mahinmi (calf) will not be available for the start of the series.

The pick: Neither team was very impressive after the All-Star break but both have All-Star talent. Washington lost its first meeting with Atlanta this season but then won the final three meetings, giving them five wins over the last seven between the two rivals. The Wizards also have the revenge card on their side, having lost the series 4-2 to the Hawks in 2015 but note, Atlanta was the East's top-seed in that season. At least for Game 1, it's all Washington. Make the Wizards a 10* play.

The set-up: The Toronto Raptors ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak and while they did catch the Cavs at 51-31, Cleveland earned the No. 2 seed due to its series win over Toronto. So, the third-seed Raptors open the 2017 playoffs against the 42-40 Milwaukee Bucks, who are the East's No. 6 seed. The Bucks finished above .500 for the first time since going 46-36 in 2009-10 and the team is looking to halt a stretch of six consecutive first-round playoff exits. The Raptors reached the East Finals last year (lost 4-2 to the Cavs) and are expecting another sustained postseason run. However, the Cavs will almost assuredly be waiting for them in the second round, if Toronto beats Milwaukee. Toronto is the clear favorite to do just that, as the Raptors were 3-1 against the Bucks this season and have won 13 of the past 15 meetings between the two clubs.

Milwaukee: All-Star small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will be counted on to carry Milwaukee in the postseason, just like in the regular season. He became the fifth player in NBA history to lead his team in scoring (22.9), rebounding (8.8), assists (5.4), blocked shots (1.9) and steals (1.6) in the same season. The Bucks were expected to fall out of the playoff race after losing Jabari Parker (20.1 & 6.1) to a torn ACL on Feb. 8th. However, just the opposite happened. The Bucks lost their first game without Parker, allowing 122 points the Lakers, but from then on won 21 of their final 30 games. The return of last years leading scorer Khris Middleton (18.2) was surely huge, as he averaged 14.7 PPG in 29 games, plus rookie guard Brogdon (10.2 & 4.2 APG) has played well enough to be considered for ROY honors.

Toronto: The Raptors are led by their All Star backcourt of DeRozan (27.3 & 5.2) and Lowry (22.4-4.8-7.0) but the addition of Serge Ibaka could be the difference in this year's anticipated second-round showdown with Cleveland. Ibaka has averaged 14.2 & 6.8 in his 23 games with Toronto and gives center Valanciunas (12.0 & 9.5 plus a team-best 55.7% shooting percentage) some much-needed inside help.

The pick: Yes, the Raptors are favored to win this series but it's not as if Toro pnto has a long history of playoff successes. In fact, the Raptors lost Game 1 of each of their playoff series last year. Take the points and make Milwaukee an 8* play.

The set-up: The Yankees opened the 2017 season losing two of three in Tampa to the Rays and then losing two of three in Baltimore to the Orioles. However, after 8-1 and 8-4 wins Monday and Wednesday against the Rays here in the Bronx, the Yanks go for a three-game sweep in their opening series at home in tonight's game against Tampa. Tampa Bay opened its 2017 season by taking five of seven at home over New York and Toronto but are looking for the team's first road win of the season tonight, after getting outscored 16-5 while going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and committing four errors in the first two games of this series in the Bronx.

The pitching matchup: Matt Andriese (0-0 & 9.00 ERA) gets the nod for Tampa and Luis Severino (0-0 & 7.20 ERA) for New York. Andriese is Tampa's fifth starter, as of now. However, he may need to put together a few strong performances to keep his hold on that role after allowing five runs (four earned) and seven hits against Toronto last Friday. He was 8-8 with a 4.37 ERA in 29 appearances in 2016 (19 starts) and went 2-6 with a 6.03 ERA after the All-Star break last season. He's made three career starst vs. the Yankees, going 1-2 with a 7.43 ERA. Severino kept his team in the game during his first start of the season (allowed four runs and six hits with six strikeouts and a walk over five innings in a 6-5 loss to Baltimore last Friday) but he's still searching for the form he displayed in 2015 when he was 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 11 starts as a rookie. He is 3-1 with a 3.47 ERA in seven appearances (three starts / team is 2-1 and his ERA is 5.17!) against Tampa Bay.

The pick: The Rays have dropped their last eight series in New York but haven't been swept at Yankee Stadium since losing four straight here back in September 2009. Severio is a liability and I won't ignore that he owned a 5.83 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 22 appearances in 2016, including 11 starts. In fact, the Yankees were 2-9 in his starts, going minus-$714 against the moneyline. Take the 1 1/2 runs with Tampa Bay and make them an 8* play.

The set-up: The 32-49 Dallas Mavericks have limped to the finish line, as they have dropped five in a row and nine of 10, including a 109-91 loss to Denver in their home finale Tuesday. The 43-38 Memphis Grizzlies are locked into the seventh seed in the West and will open the playoffs against the Spurs but first, they get their final tune-up when they host the Mavericks on Wednesday in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Dallas: The Mavs are resting players, even though all have nothing but free time on their hands starting April 13th. Leading scorer Harrison Barnes (19.2) and guard Wesley Matthews (13.5) both sat against the Nuggets while the team gave a ceremonial spot on the bench to former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Several other Mavs are expected to sit out Wednesday, including star forward Dirk Nowitzki (14.2), who scored 21 points against Denver.

Memphis: The Grizzlies aren't exactly racing to the finish line themselves, with four losses in their last five games. Head coach David Fizdale gave his reserves loads of playing time in the team's last game, although he has suggested that he might take a different approach in the finale Wednesday. "I don't even know if we're giving a guy the game off," Fizdale told reporters. "We want to keep them in rhythm and keep the cardio up and still let them get the contact and execution and all the stuff you get with playing a real game."

The pick: Memphis will be making its seventh consecutive playoff appearances, which represents the league's third-longest active playoff streak (Spurs have made 20 in a row and the Hawks, 10 straight). Everything points to Memphis showing some interest in this one,m while the Mavs 'mail it in.' Make Memphis a a 10* play.

The set-up: Russell Westbrook now stands alone in the NBA record books with 42 triple-doubles on the season. Westbrook's triple-doubles equate to winning for the Thunder, who are 33-9 when he records a triple-double and just 13-25 when he doesn't. The 45-34 Thunder are locked in to the West's No. 6 seed, playing tonight in Minnesota and back home tomorrow against the Nuggets. Meanwhile, The 31-49 Minnesota Timberwolves are limping to the finish with four straight loses on a just-concluded road trip, including a 110-109 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

Oklahoma City: Westbrook scored 50 points and added 16 rebounds plus 10 assists in Sunday's 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets, capping the record-breaking triple-double with a game-winning, 36-foot three-pointer as time expired. "I only know one way to play, honestly," Westbrook told reporters. "I don't know any other way to play. When I get on the floor, I try to leave everything I have, regardless of seedings, records, the time of day, whatever. It doesn't matter to me. Basketball is basketball, and I try to go out there and leave it all on the floor."

Minnesota: There are wif any teams more disappointing this season than the Timberwolves. A season filled with promise and moments of hope ends without the playoffs for the 13th straight season. Minnesota received standout play from second-year center Karl-Anthony Towns (25.1 & 12.2) and third-year scoring wing Andrew Wiggins (23.7) plus got a big step forward from PG Ricky Rubio (11.1 & 9.1 APG). However, mainly due to defensive inefficiencies (106.6 PPG ranked 18th), the Timberwolves are locked out of the postseason, again.

The pick: Head coach Billy Donovan said he will let Westbrook decide if he wants to play in either of the final two regular-season games. Westbrook has just one triple-double in three contests against Minnesota this season while averaging 26.7 points, 11.7 assists and eight rebounds. Yes, the Timberwolves beat the Thunder 96-88 back on Jan. 13 but that comes after losing 26 of the previous 30 meetings with them. Make OKC an 8* play.

The set-up: The 49-31 Utah Jazz will be in Oakland tonight to take on the 66-14 Golden State Warriors. K.D. returned for the Warriors in Saturday's 123-101 home win over the Pelicans and played a team-high 31 minutes while scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The Warriors have now won 14 straight since their three-game losing streak (Mar. 8-11), going 11-2-1 ATS. Meanwhile, the Jazz are involved in one of the few races still to be decided with three days left in the regular season. The No. 4 seed in the Western Conference has yet to be determined, as the 49-1 Clippers are battling the Jazz for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Utah: The Jazz enter Monday with a record identical to the Clippers' but sit in the No. 5 spot due to its head-to-head tiebreaker disadvantage. Making things even more difficult is that Utah finishes the regular season against the top two teams in the West, Golden State and San Antonio. "We don't really care," Jazz point guard Shelvin Mack told the Salt Lake Tribune regarding the team's desire for home-court advantage. "We're not going to get the No. 1 overall seed. So at some point, we're going to have to win a game on the road." Word is that Utah is more concerned with being healthy heading into the playoffs and All-Star small forward Gordon Hayward (quadriceps), shooting guard Rodney Hood (rest) and power forward Derrick Favors (rest) all are candidates to sit on Monday.

Golden State: Durant made his return on Saturday and collected 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes. "It felt normal again," Durant told reporters. "I'm a basketball player. I love playing basketball. That's my favorite thing to do. So, to feel like I’m part of the team, to feel like I’m a part of this energy that we have, it feels great." Curry averaged 26.9 points and 7.8 assists with Durant out of the lineup, including a pair of 42-point performances in his last three games. Curry is expected back from a knee contusion on Monday, meaning Curry and Kevin Durant will take the floor together for the first time since Durant went down with a knee injury on Feb. 28

The pick: The Warriors no longer are playing for anything after locking up the top seed throughout the playoffs but they have two regular-season games to find the chemistry the team enjoyed prior to the injury to K.D. The Warriors have won seven straight at home over the Jazz, dating to April 2013. That streak includes four consecutive victories by 15 or more points, capped by a 104-74 spanking in December. Make Golden State an 8* play.

The pick: Oklahoma City has won eight straight meetings with Denver and gets a 'triple-double' here, the win, the cover and Russell's 42nd triple-double of the season. Make OKC a 10* play.

The set-up: The 39-40 Indiana Pacers are currently in the East's playoff field but just barely. Home wins this week over the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks, which marked the team's first back-to-back wins since early February, have the Pacers and Bulls tied at 39-40, with the Heat lurking at 38-41, one game behind in the No. 9 spot. The Pacers play in Orlando tonight, against the 28-51 lottery-bound Magic. The Magic snapped a five-game slide with a 115-107 win over the NBA-worst Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday but sit tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the fourth-worst record in the NBA. "

Indiana: From the "strange but true" category of NBA life, Indiana got a boost in the last two games from the return of Lance Stephenson, who has energized the home crowd and is proving to be a key member of the rotation off the bench. He was part of Pacers' teams that went to the conference finals in 2013 and 2014. In the team's two home wins this week, he combinied with Aaron Brooks to form a potent backcourt on the second unit. "With Lance and Aaron Brooks in the game together, we have the versatility to move them from point to wing," Indiana coach Nate McMillan told reporters. "Aaron is a good three-point shooter and with Lance at the point, that gives us another option on the wing." You can't make this stuff up!

Orlando: The Magic are coming to the end of their season and are intent on building chemistry heading into the summer and looking ahead to next season. PF Aaron Gordon and PG Elfrid Payton are developing a strong connection. "It's something that is growing with us and we want it to keep growing through the summer," Payton told the team's website of the chemistry he has with Gordon. "We're definitely trying to make an imprint and establish a way that we’re going to play. We’re finding an identity and we’ve got to just continue to get that defensive identity down." Payton and Gordon combined for 43 points on 17-of-29 shooting in Thursday's win over Brooklyn. Gordon (12.5 & 5.0) is averaging 20.0 & 9.6 his last five games and Payton (12.7-4.7-6.4) is averaging 15.4-6.8-10.2 over the same time frame.

The pick: From "Ripley's Believe it or Not," we have Stephenson is averaging 8.3 points, two rebounds and 3.7 assists in 22 minutes per game in three appearances for the Pacers so far. Pacers PF Thaddeus Young has also recorded a double-double in two straight and three of the last five contests. plus as always, Paul George (23.3 & 6.6) leads the charge. Make the Pacers an 8* play.

The pick: The Spurs have often played very well in games like this (when significant players have been kept on the bench) plus the Mavs have no reason to win anymore. The Mavericks snapped a seven-game losing streak in the overall series with a 105-101 comeback win in January, which ended a Spurs' run of 117 straight wins at home when leading by least 10 points at the half. Dallas had lost 12 in a row in San Antonio going back to 2010. Despite the loss, San Antonio has still won 21 of the last 26 regular-season matchups, including three straight and seven of the last nine in Dallas. Even with the "second team" playing, make the Spurs a 10* play.

The set-up: The 50-28 Boston Celtics limp into Atlanta for tonight's game with the 39-38 Hawks, licking their wounds form a 114-91 thrashing at the hands of the Cavs last night in Boston. As for the Hawks, they are barely clinging to a playoff spot, having lost nine of their last 11.

Boston: The Celtics really covet the No. 1 overall seed in case of a potential Game 7 against the Cavaliers in the postseason, so the blowout loss was a huge setback. PG Isaiah Thomas (29.1 & 5.9 APG) had 26 points against Cleveland (he has topped 20 in 13 of his last 14 contests) but shot just 1 of 8 from three-point range. Boston was a combined 7 of 33 (21.2%) from beyond the arc and defensively, had no answer for LBJ (36-10-6). Love added 15 & 16 and Kyrie 19 and five assists. Is it "back to the drawing board" for the Celtics?

Atlanta: All-Star power forward Paul Millsap (18.1 & 6.3) returned from an eight-game absence due to a knee issue on Sunday but scored just 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting in a 91-82 loss to lowly Brooklyn. Millsap won't be operating at full strength but has had time to recover from Sunday's contest with a three-day stretch without a game. The Hawks are currently clinging to the No. 6 seed but are only 1 1/2 games ahead of Chicago, Miami and Indiana, who are all at 38-40.

The pick: Expect the Celtics to bounce back after last night's hugely disappointing effort (Atlanta is not Cleveland!). The struggling Hawks are 1-8 ATS their nine at home and look for them to play the perfect foil. Make Boston an 8* play.

LA Clippers: The Clippers are headed toward a first-round playoff matchup with the Jazz but the team with home-court advantage will be teh favorite to win that matchup, as both teams have won more than two-thirds of their home games (Jazz are 27-12 at home and the Clippers 26-12). Los Angeles hasn't played since Saturday so the team should be well rested. The Clippers play three of their final four games at home but the road contest is at San Antonio and one of the homes games is against Houston. That makes this game vs. Dallas a must.

The pick. However, the Mavericks have actually won the last two meetings with the Clippers, after dropping 12 of the previous 16. Sure LA is likely to win but note that the Clippers are just 2-8 ATS at home their last 10 as double digits favorites, with one of those ATS wins coming against the Cavs, when they rested LBJ, Kyrie and Love. Make Dallas an 8* play.

The Denver Nuggets have won two straight while the Portland Trail Blazers have lost their last two. The 37-40 Nuggets are in Houston tonight and with a win over the Rockets, can move into a tie with the 38-40 Blazers for tehepot in the West (Blazers are idle). The Rockets are 52-25, after ending a three-game losing streak with Monday’s 123-116 victory at Phoenix. Houston is locked into the West's No. 3 seed and won Monday's game without three starters in the lineup.

Denver: The Nuggets have gotten back in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West by winning back-to-back road games. They edged the Heat 116-113 in Miami on Sunday and then won 134-131 at New Orleans on Tuesday. Denver used just eight players with Will Barton (foot) and Jameer Nelson (calf) out at New Orleans, but seven of the eight scored in double figures. The team shot 53.5 percent from the floor. Center Nikola Jokic (16.6 & 9.7) had 21 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double to go along with a pair of triple-doubles in the last 10 contests while Danilo Gallinari (leading scorer at 17.9) is averaging 28.5 points over the past two games. PG Emmanuel Mudiay (11.0 & 4.0 APG) has received more playing time the last two games with Nelson out and averaged 16 points and eight assists after scoring 23 total points in March.

Houston: MVP candidate James Harden (sore wrist), Ryan Anderson (ankle) and Trevor Ariza (personal) all missed Monday’s victory at Phoenix. "It’s what you’re paid for,” Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters of his patchwork lineup. “They came out, as professional as heck. They got the job done. That’s what we just talked about.” Harden (29.2-8.1-11.2), who is averaging 33 points and 10 assists in three wins against Denver this season, could sit out another game or two to help his wrist recover for the playoffs.

The pick: How D'Antoni handles his rotation on Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets at Toyota Center remains to be seen. However, we know Denver desperately needs this one (Nuggets still have two more road games left on this five-game trip), while the Rockets No. 1 priority has to be getting healthy for the playoffs. Make Denver a 10* play

The pick: This game with the Knicks is the first of five remaining games against non-playoff teams for Chicago. Hard to argue with Chicago's recent success but the Bulls are just 15-23 SU on the road this season. New York has won the first two meetings with Chicago, taking a 117-104 win in Chicago back on Nov. 4 and posting a 104-89 win on Jan. 12 in New York. Chicago as a road favorite?? Make the Knicks a 10* play.

The pick: No doubt that the Nets are playing their best ball of the season and will be motivated to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the 76ers but I've been riding Philly lately and ahas rewarded its backers to the tune of going ATS its last . Make Philadelphia a 10* play.

Rogers' complete analysis by 12 pm et (10*)

The set-up: The 35-40 Denver Nuggets have lost three straight and five of seven. That slump, coupled with Portland's late rush (), has Denver falling 2 1/2 games back of the Blazers for the West's No. 8 seed. Denver had been sitting on that eighth spot for a long time but now the Nuggets are running out of time (just seven games left in their season). The 37-39 Miami Heat know all about battling for a playoff spot. The Heat are one of three teams in the Eastern Conference with identical 37-39 records, and only two of them will make the postseason. Due to tiebreakers, the Chicago Bulls are in seventh place, the Heat are eighth and the Indiana Pacers are ninth. The Bulls are 6-4 over their last 10, the Heat are 5-5 and the Pacers are 3-7.

Denver: The Nuggets have allowed an average of 119.7 points during a three-game losing streak, including 122 in each of the first two games of their five-game road trip. Denver got outscored 52-35 in the paint and allowed Charlotte to make 17 three-pointers in Friday's 122-114 loss. "Definitely losing like this the last two it makes it tough, but we still have to do our job," forward Danilo Gallinari told the media. "Have fun with each other, have fun playing basketball and keep focusing on our job every game." Denver's five starters combined to score 95 points and shoot 56.1 percent but its four reserves were 8-for-24 from the floor. Losing is not fun, especially when a playoff spot is slipping away.

Miami: The Heat lost 98-94 at home to the sad-sack Knicks on Friday, the team's fourth loss in seven games. Is this a "must win" game for Miami? Maybe not but the Heat have a three-game road trip up next, visiting the Hornets on Wednesday before going to Toronto and Washington. They then return home to finish the regular season with a game against Cleveland. PG Dragic (20.1 & 5.9 APG) and center Whiteside (16.8 & 14.1) have led this team all season, with Whiteside having recorded 52 double-doubles on the season.

The pick: The Knicks Friday came into AmericanAirlines Arena on Friday with a 28-47 record and without the services of two of their top three scorers in Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose. Plus, Joakim Noah and Lance Thomas, who have started 61 games combined this season, were unavailable. Still, the Heat couldn't defnd their home court. Make Denver an 8* play.

The set-up: The 35-41 Charlotte Hornets have six games left and currently sit two games back of the East's final playoff spot. They will be in OKC on Sunday, taking on the 43-32 Thunder, who are 2 1/2 games back of the Clippers for the West's No. 5 seed. However, the Thunder are hoping to move closer to clinching the West's No. 6 seed with a win, as they are currently 1 1/2 games better than the No. 7 Grizzlies.

Charlotte: The Hornets got a much-needed 122-114 win against Denver amade 17 three-pointers.Frank Kaminsky () led the way with five and has made multiple three-pointers in four consecutive games, shooting 20-of-35 (57.1%) from the floor in the last three outings. PG Kemba Walker () had 31 points on Friday and has 23 assists versus just three turnovers in the last four games. The Hornets are currently on the outside looking in on the playoffs and need every win they can get. Charlotte is two games behind the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat for seventh and eighth place in the East. With only two spots open for the five teams in contention, Charlotte is in "must win" mode from here out.

Oklahoma City: The Thunder fell Friday at home to Spurs, as Russell Westbrook (31.8-10.6-10.4 was not up to his MVP form. He shot just 8-of-22 in Friday's loss, although he still finished with a triple-double (35-15-12), his 39th of the season, two shy of the all-time record. The Thunder got 16 points from Victor Oladipo (16.3) against San Antonio and 13 from Steven Adams (11.6 & 7.6) and it's an ongoing issue. They continue to look for a consistent second option alongside Westbrook. Enes Kanter (14.5 & 6.9), who splits time at center with Adams, has scored in double figures in 16 of the last 17 games with six double-doubles over that stretch.

The pick: Still, this team is just too reliant on Westbrook. Want a perfect example? Westbrook dominants the ball, especially in the fourth quarter, leaving no other playmakers. Westbrook is averaging 10.4 APG but the next closest on the team is Victor Oladipo at 2.5 per game. That said, the Thunder can handle a team like Charlotte here at home, without much trouble. Look for Westbrook to dominate with his sixth straight triple-double and for OKC to win and cover. Make OKC an 8* play.

The set-up: North Carolina cruised through its first two games but needed a 12-0 run at the end of the game to get past Arkansas 72-65, before edging Kentucky 75-73 when Maye knocked down the game-winner with .3 seconds left on the clock. The 31-7 Tar Heels (the South's No. 1 seed) will square off against the 33--5 Oregon Ducks, the Midwest's No. 3 seed. The Ducks eked out a 69-68 win over Michigan in the Sweet 16, then shocked top-seeded Kansas in its 'backyard' (Kansas City) in the Elite 8, winning 74-60 as a 6 1/2-point underdog.

Oregon: The Ducks' Dillon Brooks (16.3) was the Pac-12's player-of-the-year but the unquestioned star of Oregon's Final 4 run has been guard Tyler Dorsey (14.5). He hit the game-winner in the round of 32 against Rhode Island and has averaged 24.5 PPG in four NCAA wins. In fact, going back to Oregon's three Pac-12 tourney games, he's topped 20 points in seven straight! The loss in the Pac 12 tourney of center Boucher (11.8 & 6.1) for the rest of the year was supposed to derail Oregon but that hasn't been the case, even though Brooks has been underwhelming, so far. The 6-9 Bell (10.9 & 8.6) has been terrific, averaging 12.5 PPG and 12.5 RPG along with 12 blocks after four games (he's pulled down double-digits in rebounds in six consecutive games).

North Carolina: The Tar Heels own a national-best rebounding margin of plus-13 per game and they are rebounding nearly 42 percent of their missed shots. Making that stat even more devastating is that North Carolina is a good shooting team, connecting on 47.2 percent (44th). When starting guard Williams was lost for the season in mid-Feb, Carolina began starting PG Berry (14.6-3.1-3.6) with the 6-6 Pinson (6.0-4.2-3.7), the 6-8 Jackson (18.2 & 4.7), the 6-10 Meeks (12.3 & 9.3) and the 6-9 Hicks (12.1 & 5.4). The 6-10 Bradley (7.3 & 5.1), the 6-8 Maye (5.8 & 4.0) and guard Britt (4.6) contribute off the bench. Roy Williams may have the most complete team left in the field, noting that Maye came off the bench to average 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in two games in the South regional in Memphis last weekend.

The pick: However, Berry has two balky ankles and as we saw last weekend, North Carolina was life-and-death with both Arkansas and Kentucky. Dorsey is 'on fire,' and Brooks is overdue for a breakout game. Bell was the Pac-12 defensive player of the year and this Oregon team thrives on its athleticism and effort. Take the points and make Oregon a 10* play.

The set-up: The 29-47 Sacramento Kings have been eliminated from postseason contention and the 30-44 Minnesota Timberwolves will join them shortly. Not much was expected of the Kings this season and when Rudy Gay (18.7) was lost to a season-ending injury and the Kings traded Cousins (27.8 & 10.6) at the All Star break, Sacramento 'turned the page" and has now sat out 11 straight postseasons. However, Minnesota's season began full optimism with two of the NBA's finest young players in Towns and Wiggins plus a proven scorer in LaVine. The addition of head coach Tom Thibodeau was expected to get this team into the playoffs. Instead, the T-wolves are now on the brink of playoff extinction, which will mark the 13th straight non-playoff season for this franchise.

Sacramento: The Kings enter Saturday's game at Target Center coming off a lopsided 117-89 road loss against the New Orleans Pelicans. It was Cousins' first game against the team which traded him away and he scored 37 points. Rookie Buddy Hield was the key piece in the Cousins trade and after averaging just 8.6 points in 57 games with New Orleans, he's averaged 13.9 points in 19 games with the Kings, shooting 48.5 percent from the floor.

Minnesota: Towns (24.7 & 12.1) and Wiggins (23.1 & 4.0) have had outstanding seasons plus LavVne (18.9) was close to a 20-point average before getting hurt. Veteran PG Rubio (10.9 & 9.0 APG) has put together a solid season and so has PF Dieng (10.1 & 7.9). There is just no excuse for this team to be 14 games under .500!

The pick: The T-wolves ended a six-game slide with a 115-114 Monday win at Indiana and then won again Thursday night at home, 119-104 over the Lakers, who aren't trying to win. Yes, the Kings are just 4-15 since trading Cousins but they are still trying. I want no part of laying a huge number with Minnesota. Make the Kings an 8* play.

The set-up: The 39-36 Atlanta Hawks and the 36-39 Chicago Bulls are both in the middle of the East's logjam at the bottom of that conference's playoff picture. Each team has just seven games left but the Hawks' playoff chances look good, with them sparring over positioning. Atlanta is just a half-game back of No. 5 Milwaukee plus owns a 2 1/2-game edge on Miami and Indiana (37-39) , who are tied for the East's final two spots. As for the Bulls, who missed last year's postseason despite a 42-40 record, they currently sit a half-game back of the Heat and Pacers and own the unenviable position of being "the last team out!" (just like last year when Chicago finished two games back of the No. 8 seed).

Atlanta:The Hawks had lost seven in a row from Mar. 13th through Mar. 26th but have put together back-top-back wins over two of the NBA's worst teams this year, edging the Suns 95-91 at home on Tuesday and then winning the next night at Philly, 99-92. Swingman Kent Bazemore (11,2) scored 19 points and hit four three-pointers in 20 minutes off the bench against Philadelphia after missing five games with a right knee bone bruise. Getting Bazemore back surely helps, as starters Paul Millsap and Thabo Sefolosha continue to miss. Not having Millsap is huge, as the PF leads the team in scoring (18.1) plus averages 7.7 RPG. Millsap had a non-surgical procedure performed to relieve the soreness in his left knee and will miss Saturday's game against the Bulls, his eighth straight. You don't hear much about center Dwight Howard (13.5 & 12.9) these days but he led Atlanta with 22 points and 20 rebounds, his 17th straight double digit rebounding game.

Chicago: The Bulls cleared out players in the off-season and brought in some new ones but things have not gotten better. At the trade deadline, they then shipped out two solid players, PF Gibson (11.6 & 6.9) and the team's best three-point shooter, McDermott (10.2). Of course, Butler (23.5-6.2-5.5) is still the heart of this team but Wade's return to Chicago has been underwhelming (he's was shut down for the year in mid-March) and the signing of Rondo (7.5-5.0-6.6) has not helped the team at all.

The pick: The Hawks have dominated the Bulls recently, having won seven straight in the series, including all three this season. However, the Hawks are down two starters and the Bulls are a shell of the team which began the season. The Under is a 10* play

The set-up: The Sacramento Kings traded their franchise player, DeMarcus Cousins, to the New Orleans Pelicans at the trade deadline and tonight, Cousins plays against his former team or the first time, as the 32-43 New Orleans Pelicans host the 29-46 Sacramento Kings on Friday. The All-Star center played six-plus seasons with the Kings until being traded to the Pelicans during the All-Star break for a package that included shooting guard Buddy Hield.

Sacramento: The Kings beat Denver 116-100 in their first game without Cousins but after getting trounced 112-82 by the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, have lost 13 of their last 17 games. Hield was the player Sacramento most wanted in the trade but he sure struggling against Utah, scoring two points on 1-of-7 shooting. However, he had averaged 16.8 points over the previous six contests and in his 18 games with the Kings, is averaging 14.0 PPG on 47.7 percent shooting.

New Orleans: The addition of Cousins was supposed to allow the Pelicans to climb up and snag the West's No.8 playoff spot but that hasn't been the case. New Orleans is just 9-9 since the All Star break and with only seven games left in their season, is five games out (slim just left town!). Cousins returned from a two-game absence due to an ankle injury to record 29 points and 16 rebounds in Wednesday's 121-118 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. He's averaging 22.9 & 11.9 in 14 games with the Pelicans. Davis 27.9 & 12.0) also had a huge game against Dallas with 30 points and 13 rebounds and he is the first player to record at least 30 points and 13 rebounds in four consecutive games since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000. He and Cousins get along well - they are both Kentucky products - and the duo is committed to making their budding partnership work, and point guard Jrue Holiday has noticed. "They for sure have a groove," Holiday told reporters. "They pass to each other kind of like they've done it before. I think it's a lot easier when you see coming off a screen one person diving and one person popping. (They're) definitely figuring that out."

The pick: Holiday is entitled to his opinion but in the 14 games Cousins has played in for the Pelicans, they are just 6-8 SU and 6-7-1 ATS. That's not playoff-level basketball. The Kings have won the previous two meetings against the Pelicans this year and just who is New Orleans to be laying this much wood? Make Sacramento an 8* play.

The set-up: Denver lost their showdown with the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday, the team's fourth loss in six games. That defeat dropped the 35-39 Nuggets one game back of the Blazers for the West's No. 8 seed and Portland's win last night over Houston, added a half-game to that lead over the Nuggets. Denver still has time to make up ground on Portland but this game at Charlotte marks the second of a five-game road trip. The 34-41 Charlotte Hornets have a bigger gap to make up in the East, as they are three games behind the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers (who are tied for the final two playoff spots), with seven left to play.

Denver: The Nuggets are well aware they came up short in Tuesday's game at Portland. "It’s what we've been all year: inconsistent," Barton told the Denver Post after the loss. "Good in moments. (Portland) wanted it more, point blank. From top to bottom, they wanted it more. Everything - the coaches, the players - they just wanted it more." Adding insult to injury, the man most responsible for Tuesday's loss was former Nugget Jusuf Nurkic, who was traded in February to Portland. The 7-foot center scored a career-high 33 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked three shots as Portland claimed its 12th win in 15 outings.

Charlotte: The Hornets lost at home Tuesday night to teh hecks but pulled off an amazing in-game turnaround the following night at Toronto. Charlotte scored 44 fourth-quarter points at Toronto, after managing just16 in the third, to pull out a 110-106 win and remain on the fringe of playoff relevancy.

The pick: Charlotte's barely alive in the playoff race (three games out with only seven to play) and if the Hornets come up short, they'll look back at the team's 1-12 run from Feb. 23 through Mar. 23 . The Hornets have no margin for error and are going to need some help. Don't expect them to get it here, as I ethe Nuggets get the much-needed win. Make Denver a 10* play.

The set-up: The 45-31 Los Angeles Clippers currently own the No. 5 seed in the West, 1 1/2 games back of No. 4 Utah and just one game better than No. 6 OKC. The Clippers have been an up-and-down team since the All-Star break and head to Phoenix just 10-10 since returning to the court on Feb. 23rd. Meanwhile, the Suns are in a race to the bottom of the Western Conference with the LA Lakers, entering this contest on a nine-game losing streak, although they remain a half-game better than LA entering tonight's play at 22-53 (Lakers are 21-53).

LA Clippers: The Clippers are off an impressive 133-124 win over the visiting Wizards last night, as four starters scored over 20 points in the same game for the first time in franchise history. J.J. Redick led the way with 31, followed by PG Chris Paul (27), PF Blake Griffin (26) and center DeAndre Jordan (23). The foursome combined for 107 points. It marked a season-high in points for Redick, Griffin just missed a triple-double by adding 10 rebounds and nine assists plus Jordan added 18 rebounds for his 36th double-double of the season.

Phoenix: The Suns shut down Bledsoe (21.1-4.8-6.3) in mid-March for tehe season plus center Chandler (8.4 & 11.5) and backup PG Knight (11.0 & 2.4 APG) have been held out since the All Star break, as the Suns have been looking at their young players. Many felt that head coach Earl Watson gave too long of a look to Booker, when he kept him on the floor in the final minutes against Boston to help him get to 70 points back on Mar. 24th (last Friday). Booker apparently tweaked an ankle during that contest or the ensuing game against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. He sat out Tuesday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

The pick: All of LA's key players are healthy now, with the possible exception of key reserve Austin Rivers, but still this team hardly inspires confidence. After all, they've lost to lightweights like Dallas and Sacramento in the last days.The Clippers will be playing the second night of a back-to-back for the 13th time Thursday night and they went just 3-9 in their first dozen second-night affairs. Laying points here makes little sense, even against the Suns. Make Phoenix an 8* Play

The set-up: The Warriors rested their key players the last time they were in San Antonio (Mar. 11) and caught 'hell.' However, after last night's 113-106 win at Houston, Golden State has gone 8-0 SU and 6-2 ATS since losing badly that night in San Antonio. The Warriors will be back in San Antonio tonight and while they are 0-2 vs. the Spurs this season, they own a 60-14 record, 2 1/2 games better than San Antonio's 57-16 mark. The Spurs also come in playing well (so what else is new?), having won five in a row.

Golden State: Steve Kerr drew the ire of the league and ABC officials when he didn't play guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, forward Draymond Green and swingman Andre Iguodala in Golden State's last trip to San Antonio but has said, "The guys are good to go," while revealing his plans to reporters after the win over Houston. Stephen Curry (24.9-4.5-6.5) had 32 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Warriors last night, while Klay Thompson (22,3) and Draymond Green (10.4-8.1-7.1) added 25 and 19 points. It was the 11th time this season that both Curry and Thompson scored at least 25 points in the same game. The Warriors never trailed on Tuesday, setting the pace by building a 17-point lead at the end of the first quarter and leading by as many as 22 points.

San Antonio: Let's not forget that San Antonio was without its two best players, Kawhi Leonard (26.0 & 5.9) and LaMarcus Aldridge (17.6 & 7.5) were out with injuries, in that Mar. 11 rout of the Warriors. San Antonio comes into this showdown with the Warriors on the heels of a dominating 103-74 victory over defending league champion Cleveland on Monday. Kawhi Leonard, surely a legitimate MVP candidate, had 25 points in the win despite sitting out all but the first minute of the fourth quarter.

San Antonio is 6-0 against the league's three other teams (Golden State, Boston and Cleveland) that can earn conference titles plus the Spurs have prevailed in 34 of their last 35 home games against the Warriors, with Golden State's win coming last season to end a 33-game slide. I guess that means SA is the play but just like last night, I'm not passing up the Warriors as an underdog. Make Golden State a 10* play.

The set-up: The Atlanta Hawks finally halted a seven-game slide with an unimpressive 95-91 home win last night over the Suns. The 38-36 Hawks remain tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference with Milwaukee but they are just one game up on the seventh-seeded Pacers and two up on the eighth-seeded Heat (Chicago, at No. 9, is still within three games of Atlanta). The 28-49 Philadelphia 76ers won 106-101 last night in Brooklyn over the NBA-worst Nets and return home for this game having played well recently (5-4 SU over their last nine), despite numerous injuries

Atlanta: PG Dennis Schroder (18.0 & 6.3 APG) fueled Tuesday's victory with 27 points. "It feels great to get a win," Schroder told reporters. "Now it's time to start a winning streak." Atlanta's recent struggles are partially due to injuries, including All-Star forward Paul Millsap (18.1 & 7.7), who has missed six consecutive games knee tightness and will miss at least two more. Swingman Kent Bazemore (11.0) has sat out five consecutive games with knee issues as well, but may return against the 76ers. However, forward Thabo Sefolosha (7.3 & 4.4) will miss his third straight contest with a groin injury. You don't hear much about center Dwight Howard (13.4 & 12.8) these days but he had 15 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots against Phoenix for his 16th consecutive double-digit rebounding game.

Philadelphia: With Embiid's season having been cut short (he played in just 31 games), forward Dario Saric continues to emerge as a leading Rookie of the Year candidate. He scored 23 points for his seventh 20-point outing of the month in last night's win and has averaged 12.9 & 6.4 on the season. Saric is averaging 19.4 points over the past 20 games, with six double-doubles. Philly's injury issues continue to be widespread, as second-year center Jahlil Okafor (knee) has missed four of the past five games with a knee problem, although head coach Brett Brown insists he won't be shut down. Former Hawks center Tiago Splitter played his first game since Jan. 31, 2016 last night, contributing two points and three rebounds in seven minutes off the bench for Philadelphia. Splitter, acquired from Atlanta in exchange for Ilysova in that Feb. 22 deal, had been out with hip and calf problems. Splitter was one of just nine players available to Sixers coach Brett Brown.

The pick: OK, the Hawks finally won a game after seven straight losses (2-5 ATS) but it came against the sad-sack Suns and Atlanta won by just four, as a 10-pont favorite, Yes, the Hawks are 3-0 against the 76ers this season and have won the past six meetings but this Atlanta team has gone just 3-7 SU over its last 10 road games while the 76ers continue to be a money-making investment, despite a steady stream of injuries. The numbers say it all. Philly is 18-5 ATS its last 23. Make Philly an 8* play.

The set-up: The Golden State Warriors have 'righted the ship,' having put together a seven-game winning streak since the team suffered a 5-7 stretch from Feb. 28th (the game in which K.D. got hurt) through Mar. 11th. The Warriors are 59-14 and lead the Spurs by two games with nine games remaining for both teams. The 51-22 Rockets are streaking as well, having won four straight and seven of eight.

Golden State: The Warriors have survived a disjointed period following Kevin Durant's knee injury with Stephen Curry taking control of the offense and Klay Thompson burying three-pointers to compliment an improvement on the defensive end. The Warriors needed someone to step up when Durant went down and are getting a strong run from veteran Andre Iguodala, who went 7-of-8 from the floor in a win over Memphis on Sunday. He's averaged 12.6 & 4.4 over his last five. However, it sure also helps that Curry's averaging 24.3 PPG and 8.0 APG during the team's seven-game streak, with Thompson leading the way with 24.9 PPG, while making 52.3% of his threes. Oh yeah, you may remember Green, whose line reads 11.1-7.9-7.1 in the seven straight wins.

Houston: James Harden (29.4-8.0-11.3) continues to build his MVP resume. The All-Star point guard is averaging 36 points, 12.2 assists and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the floor over the last five games and was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday. Houston's supporting cast is also stepping up around Harden as well. Four different players scored at least 22 points in Sunday's 137-125 triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lou Williams led the way with 31 points off the bench and he's averaging 15.0 PPG in about 24 minutes of playing time since coming over from the Lakers.

The pick: Golden State doesn't plan on resting players this week and can basically wrap up the top spot in the West with a good week while playing Houston (twice) and San Antonio over the next three games. Meanwhile, the Rockets are locked into the No. 3 spot in the West but are looking to test themselves against the best in the West heading into the postseason. Houston won the first meeting between the two teams in double overtime at Oracle Arena back on Dec. 1, kicking off a 10-game winning streak. However, they didn't make their three-point shots in the rematch at home on Jan 20th, hitting just 7 of 35 three-pointers while falling 125-108. The Warriors sure don't want to visit San Antonio tomorrow off a loss. Make Golden State a 10* play.

The set-up: The 37-36 Milwaukee Bucks are in a three-way tie with Atlanta and Indiana for the East's No. 5 seed in the upcoming playoffs. To say it's a logjam is an understatement, as 2 1/2 games separate the No. 5 team and the No. 9 team plus Detroit is one game back of the No. 9 team (Chicago) at No. 10 and the 33-40 Charlotte Hornets are just a half-game back of the Pistons. The Hornets have won four of their last five and enter their final nine games of the regular season with some momentum.

Milwaukee: The Bucks worked their way up into a tie for the No. 5 spot with wins in 11 of 13 but failed to take advantage of a chance to move up more with a 109-94 home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. They will need to stay sharp, as six of their final nine games on the road, including two trips to Boston, which now leads the Cavs by a half-game for the East's No. 1 seed (wow!). The Bucks have "played through" the season-ending injury to Jabari Parker (20.1 & 6.2), led by Giannis Antetokounmpo (23.1-8.3-5.3) and buoyed by the return to health of last year's leading scorer, Khris Middleton, who has averaged 14.9 PPG in 21 games (15 starts).

Charlotte": The Hornets opened the season 8-3 but quickly fell into mediocrity. Charlotte was 23-21 on the morning of Jan. 23rd but then lost 12 of 13 and seemed 'dead in the water.' However, the team has shown some life recently. The Hornets are playing their best basketball since November and sit two games behind the eighth-place Miami Heat, just four games behind a cluster of teams tied for the No. 5 spot. Still, the team has been plagued by inconsistency and time is running short.

The pick: The teams have not seen each other since opening night, when Charlotte earned a 107-96 win at Milwaukee. A win tonight for the Hornets is a 'must' and I'll make Charlotte an 8* play.

Sacramento: Willie Cauley-Stein (7.5 & 3.7 on the year) had 14 rebounds to go along with the game-winning shot in the closing seconds against the Clippers (two of just eight points) and Buddy Hield made all three of his three-pointers in the final three-plus minutes to fuel the rally. Hield was the player GM Vlade Divac coveted most from New Orleans in the Cousins deal and he's averaging 14.8 PPG in his 16 games with the Kings, shooting 49.4% from the floor. Sacramento also reacquired Tyreke Evans in that deal and when he's played (10 games), he's averaged 13.4 PPG and shot 50.0% on threes.

The pick: Yes, Sacramento's win l on Sunday showed grit but remember, the Kings are just 4-12 since trading Cousins and get set to host Memphis, having gone only 1-7 SU in their last eight at home. Gasol led the way with 28 points and nine rebounds when these teams last met Jan. 20 in Memphis, a game the Grizzlies won which gave them 19 wins in their last 22 encounters with the Kings. Gasol or not, make Memphis an 8* play.

The set-up: The 41-31 Oklahoma City Thunder are trying to catch the Utah Jazz in the Northwest Division (currently trail by 2 1/2 games) plus are also still alive to catch the Clippers for the No. 5 seed in the West (trail by 1 1/2 games). However, they also know that the Grizzlies are only 1 1/2 games back of them for the sixth-seed. The Thunder stay on the road tonight and the team's 14-21 record away from home, the third-worst mark in the NBA among the 16 teams that entered the day holding down a playoff spot, keeps holding them back. The 31-41 Dallas Mavericks welcome OKC tonight but they've gone just 3-5 in their last eight, falling 3 1/2 games behind Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Oklahoma City: The Thunder limp into Dallas having dropped their last two outings against marquee opponents at home, badly. Houston shot 63.3 percent (made hit 20 three-pointers) in Sunday's 137-125 victory over OKC (Thunder were down 20 at the half). Last Monday at home, the Thunder also came up woefully short against the Durant-less Warriors 111-95, as Curry and Thompson (57 points) outscored OKC's entire starting-five (53 points). Russell Westbrook (31.3-10.5-10.4) just may finish the season averaging a triple-double but if OKC is to win even one playoff series, Oladipo, Kanter and Adams, plus ex-Bulls Gibson and McDermott will have to consistently play better..

Dallas: The Mavs have been experimenting with different players, lineups and also tried Seth Curry at PG, instead of SG, plus Harrison Barnes at PF instead of SF, the last two games. Curry had 23 points in a win over the Clippers but finished with 11 points, two assists and a minus-11 rating in 30 minutes in a loss to Toronto. Yogi Ferrell , who started 14 consecutive contests before the change, had 10 points and four assists with a plus-14 rating in just 18 minutes against the Raptors. As for Harrison Barnes (19.7), he averaged 22 points in that span.

The pick: The Thunder lost their last visit to Dallas earlier this month by 15 points and while they've been an inconsistent road team all season (see above), off Sunday's beat down, I expect a bounce back. Dallas is one defeat away from securing its first losing season since 1999-2000. The run of non-losing seasons beginning in 2000-01 coincided with Mark Cuban's first full season as owner.Make OKC a 10* play, as they hand Dallas a 42nd loss.

The set-up: It's the No. 1 seed in the South (North Carolina at 30-7) taking on the No. 2 seed (Kentucky at 32-5), the only region to have advanced all four top seeds to the Sweet 16 and now the lone region to see a 1 vs. 2 matchup to determine its Final 4 representative. This contest doesn't just feature a matchup of two of college basketball's two bluebloods (Kentucky is the NCAA leader in all-time victories with 2,239 and North Carolina is third with 2,203), it also gives us a rematch of perhaps the best game of the 2016-2017 regular season, one in which Kentucky bested North Carolina 103-100 back on Dec. 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Monk had 47 and Fox 24 for Kentucky in that game, while Jackson had 34 and Berry 23 for Nory Carolina. The Wildcats shot 54.1$ and the Tar Heels 53.0%

Kentucky: Fox was Kentucky's star against UCLA with a career-high 39 points on just 20 shots in Kentucky's 86-75 elimination of UCLA on Friday night, dominating his matchup with UCLA's Ball. Monk added 21 points against the Bruins, as Kentucky shot 49.2% (Wildcats average 85.2 PPG to rank 10th on the season). However, Kentucky's defense was also on display against UCLA, holding the Bruins 15 points below their season average and forcing 13 turnovers from a team that had only nine in its first two NCAA Tournament games. Freshman Monk (21.0) and Fox (16.8 & 4.6 APG) are joined on the perimeter by sophomore Briscoe (12.3-5.5-4.1) plus the Wildcats have two solid big men in the 6-10 Adebayo (13.0 & 8.0) and the 6-9 Willis (7.1 & 5.4).

North Carolina; The Tar Heels disposed of Butler 92-80 in Friday night's opener, leading by double digits for the final 24 minutes, led by Berry (26) and Jackson (24). Berry (14.7 & 3.6 APG) sure looks as if he's over an ankle injury that hampered him in the Tar Heels' previous game against Arkansas. As for 6-8 swingman Jackson (18.2 & 4.7), he added five rebounds and five assists. The 6-10 Meeks (12.5 & 9.1), the 6-9 Hicks (12.3 & 5.6) and 6-10 freshman Bradley (7.3 & 5.2) give North Carolina an imposing frontcourt. Like Kentucky, North Carolina is a potent offensive team, averaging 85.2 PPG (9th).

The pick: With the injury to guard Williams awhile back, North Carolina starts Berry with four frontcourt players, Jackson, Meeks, Hicks and the 6-6 Pinson (5.8 & 4.2). That's a group which measure 6-6, 6-8, 6-9 and 6-10, so the Wildcats will need to counter that with their superior guard play. That's what Kentucky did back in mid-Dec. at Las Vegas and it's deja vu all over again, here. Make Kentucky a 10* play.

LA Clippers: LA's win over Utah was its fourth in five games and reserve guard Jamal Crawford led the way with a season-high 28 points on 8-of-12 from the floor. Fellow reserves Marreese Speights (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Austin Rivers (11 points) also helped out, as LA's starting-five shot a collective 36.5 percent. Los Angeles clinched its franchise-record sixth consecutive postseason berth with Saturday's win but it's right back out on the court, this afternoon.

The pick: Yes, Los Angeles has won 18 of its last 21 games against Sacramento but the Clippers are a modest 18-17 ATS at Staples Center on the season. This is a big number. Take the points and make Sacramento an 8* play.

analysis soon

The set-up: For all its success on the basketball court these last two decades (Gonzaga's been to 19 straight NCAA tourneys), the Bulldogs are in the Elite 8 for just the third time and Saturday hope to advance to their first-ever Final 4. The West's No. 1 seed (35-1 on the season) will meet the lowest-seeded team left in the tourney, 11th-seeded Xavier. The 24-13 Musketeers are also in only the school's third-ever Elite 8 and with a win, would become only the fourth 11th seed to reach a Final Four. Like Gonzaga, Xavier is also hoping for the school's first-ever Final Four appearance.

Xavier: The Musketeers' tourney run has been led by junior guard Trevon Bluiett (18.7 & 5.6), who has averaged 25.0 PPG in Xavier's three wins so far. He scored exactly 25 points against Arizona and fellow guard J.P. Macura (14.3 & 4.4) had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists against the Wildcats. Guard Bernard, who averages just 6.6 PPG on the season, added 15 points. Xavier lacks a domianant inside player but the 6-10 O'Mara (6.1 & 3.0) scored the tie-breaking inside basket with 44.1 seconds to play in the Arizona win, when Xavier closed the game with a 9-0 run for the 73-71 upset victory. O'Mara has averaged 12.7 points on 11-of-13 shooting in three NCAA Tournament games.

Gonzaga: SG Jordan Mathews (10.7) drained the go-ahead three-pointer with 57.3 seconds remaining in Thursday's victory over West Virginia. Gonzaga averages 83.2 PPG on 51.0% shooting (2nd) but often overlooked is the team's defensive prowess. Gonzaga has allowed only 61.0 PPG on 36.5% shooting, which also ranks 2nd-best in the nation. That defense was on full display against West Va, which was held to just 26.7 percent shooting from the floor. PG Williams-Goss (16.5-5.9-4.7), the WCC player-of-the-year, has struggled this tourney, shooting just 12-of-42 (28.6%) in three NCAA Tournament games. Gonzaga has a huge edge in the frontcourt with the 7-1 Karnowski (12.4 & 5.9) backed up by 7-0 freshman center Collins (10.0 & 5.6) plus the 6-9 Williams (10.1 & 6.6) starts alongside Karnowski.

The pick: There can certainly be no doubt that there is more pressure on the Bulldogs as the school's inability to reach a Final Four was frequently brought up during their best campaign. "First of all, I don't know that I have a monkey on my back," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said after a 61-58 victory over fourth-seeded West Virginia. "I certainly don't wake up with one or walk around with one. So I don't think these guys think I have one. ... It would be phenomenal to get these guys, this team that I love deeply, the experience to go to a Final Four." Xavier as long ago put the season-ending injury to PG Sumner (14.3-4.2-4.8) behind it and comes in with its best player (Blueitt) on a roll. Meanwhile, Williams-Goss is shooting less than 30% from the floor this tourney for Gonzaga plus freshman Collins, after scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against lesser opponents in Gonzaga's first two games, was a "no-show" against West Va. with one point and four rebounds!  I've noted this often. Don't forget that Xavier was 7th in the AP preseason poll. The Musketeers are playing at that level now.. Xavier is a 10* play.

The set-up: The 26-45 Philadelphia 76ers are lottery-bound yet again but will still have a few more opportunities to influence the playoff seedings. Philadelphia beat Boston on Sunday and still has two games each remaining against the Bulls and the No. 7 Indiana Pacers, as well as games against Atlanta, Cleveland, Toronto and Milwaukee down the stretch. They will be in Chicago tonight to take on the 34-38 Bulls, who moved into a tie for ninth with Detroit, after romping over the Pistons 117-95 in Chicago on Wednesday. Both Chicago and Detroit are one game back of the eighth-seeded Heat.

The pick: Chicago enjoys a 12-game winning streak in the series (six straight home wins) but I'll take the points with the 76ers, who play the roll of spoiler in this one. Make Philly an 8* play.

analysis by 12 pm et Friday

The set-up: The 34-37 Denver Nuggets currently hold down the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference but there is little room for error, as they own a slim one-game lead over the Blazers. After losing both ends of a home-and-home with Rockets, the Nuggets got a much-needed 126-113 home win over the Cavs on Wednesday. Now it's off to Indiana to take on the 36-35 Pacers, who are tied for sixth in the East with Milwaukee but just one game up on the 8th-place Heat, who are just one game up on both the Bulls and Pistons. Things are getting tight!

Denver: Shooting guard Gary Harris (14.9) had 21 points on 8-of-14 against the Cavs, as the Nuggets shot 53.1 percent as a team. Rising star Nikola Jokic (16.2 & 9.4), added 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Harris has played very well recently (he's averaging 16.9 PPG in March,) and the Nuggets have won eight of their last 12 games, reaching 100-plus points in each one.

Indiana: The Pacers are coming off a 109-100 loss at Boston on Wednesday and have now alternated wins and losses over their last 15 games! Indiana is 4-5 in its last nine, with the five losses (all on the road) coming by an average of 13.2 PPG and the four wins (all at home) coming by an average of 12.3 points. All-Star forward Paul George (22.5-6.4-3.3) admitted that Indiana was playing like a lottery team on the road and a playoff team at home before Wednesday's game at Boston. George scored 35 points while only one other Pacers player reached double figures in the loss. "From what I see, everyone is giving it everything they

The pick: Yes, the Pacers are an impressive 25-10 SU at home (compared to 11-25 on the road) but I want all the points I can get with the high-scoring Nuggets. Make Denver an 8* play.

The set-up: The 40-31 Memphis Grizzlies have 11 games left and are hoping to chase down the OKC Thunder, who are currently just one game ahead of them for the West's No. 6 seed. They will be in San Antonio tonight to face the 54-16 Spurs, who are 2 1/2 games back of the Golden State Warriors, who own the NBA's best record at 57-14. The Spurs have 12 games remaining (seven of next eight are at home), while the Warriors have 11 games left in their season.

Memphis: The Grizzlies lost 95-82 on Tuesday at New Orleans, as a four-game winning streak came to a screeching halt. "Everything we built over the last four games, we threw away," All-Star center Marc Gasol told reporters. "I can't find the reason why, but the consistency we built was really fragile." The team's top-three players all struggled. Gasol (20.0 -6.2-4.6) had only 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting and PG Mike Conley (20.0 & 6.3 APG) had 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting. PF Zach Randolph, who now comes off the bench but still averages 14.0 & 8.2, had only four points on 2-of-11 shooting. "Our three big guns didn't have it for whatever reason," Memphis head coach David Fizdale told reporters. "We can't win games with our big three down like that." He's sure right about that. Memphis had averaged 104.5 points during its four-game winning streak but even a 28-point fourth quarter left them with just 82 on the game, as Memphis shot 40.5 percent!

San Antonio: The Spurs had to overcome a double-digit deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-93 on Tuesday and still have an opportunity to make one last run at overtaking the Warriors. LaMarcus Aldridge (17.5 & 7.4) scored 26 points against the T-wolves and now, after missing two games due to a heart arrhythmia issue, has scored at least 18 points in all four games since he returned, averaging 21.0 points during the stretch. Concerns over his health are dissipating. All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard (26.0 & 5.9) scored 22 points against the Timberwolves and has now reached 20-plus points in 15 of the past 18 games. Can you say MVP?

The pick: When K.D. went down, many felt as if the Spurs could catch the Warriors for the West's top seed. However, games haven't come easy for SA since Durant was lost in a Feb. 28th game at Washington. The Spurs may be 8-3 in March but ATS the team is a money-burning 3-8! The Grizzlies are 2-0 against Spurs this season, so make Memphis a 10* play.

The set-up: Mark Few has been at Gonzaga since the 1999-2000 season and has led the Bulldogs to the Big Dance in all 18 seasons. This year's team was 32-1 and earned the No. 1 seed in the West and now takes a 34-1 record into Thursday's meeting with 4th-seeded West Virginia, which has gone 28-8 under head coach Bob Huggins. Gonzaga held South Dakota St. to just 46 points in its first-round win and although the Bulldogs let Northwestern back in the game after owning a 38-20 halftime lead, the Bulldogs are right where they wanted to be. Huggins has always been known for his defense and West Va. provides plenty of that (more in a bit) but the Mountaineers averaged 84.5 points in the two NCAA Tournament victories over Bucknell and Notre Dame.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers allow 66.8 PPG (51st) but also earned the nickname "Pree Virginia" for their ability to disrupt an opposing team with their relentless pressure. West Virginia leads the nation in turnovers forced with 20.1 per game (including 10.2 steals per game) and turns that into offense. PG Carter (13.3-4.9-3.8) and Miles (8.8) start in the backcourt while upfront, it's the trio of the 6-9 Ahmad (11.3 & 4.4), the 6-8 Adrian (9.7-6.0-2.9) and the 6-9 Macon (6.4 & 4.1). Guard Phillip (9.6 & 3.1 APG) is the first player off the bench.

Gonzaga: Junior PG Nigel-Williams Goss (16.7-5.8-4.7) was the WCC player-of-the-year and will counted on to neutralize the West Virginia pressure. He's joined in the backcourt by Mathews (10.7) and Perkins (8.3). Starting up front is 7-1 center Karnowski (12.4 & 5.9 rebounds) plus 6-9 junior power forward Williams (10.0 & 6.6). However, it's hard to ignore 7-0 freshman reserve Zach Collins, who averaged 10.3 & 5.7 on the season. NBA talent evaluators sure haven't overlooked him, as he averaged averaged 12 points and blocked a total of seven shots in two NCAA Tournament victories. Gonzaga shoots 51.2 percent a s team (second in the nation) and defensively allows 61.1 PPG4 (th) on 36.7% shooting (2nd). That's quite a combination.

The pick: Mark Few has done a remarkable job at Gonzaga but he's never led the Bulldogs to the Final 4 and in fact, he's only taken the team to a the Elite 8, once (in 2015). The Mountaineers are a team of athletes but they can't match Karnowski and Collins' power inside. Is this the year Gonzaga makes that much-needed Final 4 appearance. First things first. Expect them to slay "Press Virginia" in this one. make Gonzaga an 8* play.

The set-up: Xavier (an 11-seed) is the only team seeded lower than No. 7 Michigan among Sweet 16 schools. Michigan comes in 26-7 after winning 12 of its last 14, including six in a row since its charter plane skidded off the runway en route to the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines won four games in four days to take the Big Ten tourney, then edged Oklahoma St. 92-91 before taking down second-seeded Louisville 73-69 to advance to the school's third Sweet 16 in the last five years. Oregon was given a 3-seed in the Midwest Region and after easing past Iona 93-77, had to rally to get past 11-seed Rhode Island, 75-72 (Oregon came back from an 11-point deficit). The Ducks take on Michigan looking to advance to the Elite 8 for a second straight year.

Michigan: Sophomore forward Moritz Wagner set a career high with 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting to lift the Wolverines past Louisville for the first time in program history. D.J. Wilson continued his strong play in the tournament by scoring 17 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 30 seconds, and blocked three shots while Derrick Walton Jr. added 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the Cardinals. Michigan top-two scorers are PG Walton (15.4-4.8-4.9) and SG Irvin (12.9 & 4.4). The 6-11 Wagner (12.2 & 4.1) was the team's star against Louisville but it's been the 6-10 Wilson (11.0 & 5.3) who has been the team's best big man during Michigan's 6-0 tourney run, averaging 16.2 PPG.

Oregon: The Ducks have been playing without their best big man in the 6-10 Boucher (11.8 & 6.1), who went down in the Pac 12 tourney. However, the win over Rhode Island gave Oregon a 31-5 record, matching the school record for single-season wins. Guard Dorsey (14.0) is the team's second-leading scorer behind 6-7 forward Brooks (16.4) but continued his recent tear as he poured in 27 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 38.4 seconds left against the Rams. Brooks scored 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds to become the Ducks' all-time leader in NCAA Tournament scoring with 123 points. The 6-9 Jordan Bell (10.8 & 8.3) had a game-high 12 rebounds. Dorsey has scored 21-plus in all five of Oregon's tourney games and enters Thursday's game averaging 23.6 PPG in that span.

The pick: Maybe it's just "Michigan's year," as it's hard to explain just how this team has jelled and played so well so far. Throw in the fact that the Wolverines have won all eight of their neutral court games in 2016-17 and it's understandable why the early betting action has all been on Michigan. However, I truly believe Oregon is the superior team (even without Boucher) and while Michigan head coach John Beilein is top-notch, this isn't Oregon's Dana Altman's first rodeo, either. Make Oregon an 8* play.

The set-up: The 36-34 Indiana Pacers currently own the No.6 seed in the East but they are just one game up on No. 7 Milwaukee, 1 1/2 games up on No. 8 Miami and just 2 1/2 games up on Detroit, which currently is on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. Boston's All-Star point PG Isaiah Thomas (29.1 & 6.0 APG) returned from a two-game absence due to knee issues on Monday and led the Celtics to a 110-102 victory with 25 points, as the 45-26 Celtics moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the Wizards in the East standings (Boston is the No. 2 seed and Washington the No. 3 seed).

Indiana: The Pacers beat the Jazz 107-100 on Monday, keeping their streak alive that has seen them alternate wins and losses over their last 14 contests. It's also noteworthy that in its last eight games, Indiana has alternated wins and losses with each of the wins coming at home where the Pacers are 25-10. The Pacers are on the road here (11-24 SU), so if form holds, Indiana is in for a rough night.The good news for the Pacers is that standout SF Paul George (22.4-6.4-3.3), who returned from the break in a shooting slump, has put that in the past, as he's averaged 25.7 PPG in March on 48.9 percent shooting from the floor, including 41.1 percent on threes.shooting

Boston: The Celtics are actually within reach of the 46-23 Cavs for the No. 1 seed (Boston is two games back) but have said that they will prioritize the health of Thomas and others down the stretch. Thomas was not 100 percent on Monday but wanted to play in an important game in terms of the standings and came away without any further issues physically. "I think it's about playing good basketball," Celtics head coach Brad Stevens told reporters before Monday's game. "That stuff sorts itself out. Obviously, you want to be as good of a seed as you can. I think that there's no question about that. But, again, I'd like to have some healthy games here to play some good basketball and see if we can figure ourselves out as we head into the next month-plus."

The pick: The Celtics have won both games against the Pacers this season, despite each of them being played in Indianapolis. Yes, the Pacers have alternated wins and losses their last 14 and are coming off a win (they are do for a loss) and yes, the Pacers are a woeful 11-24 SU on the road. However, the Pacers are from from having secured a playoff seed, no less even assured themselves of one of the East's eight playoff spots.As noted above, the Celtics will be cautious with their players down the stretch (especially with Thomas) and I want all the points we are getting tonight. Make the Pacers an 8* play.

The set-up: The 34-36 Detroit Pistons are clinging to the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference and after Sunday's 112-95 win over the Suns snapped a three-game slide, Detroit is hoping (expecting?) that a visit to the NBA-worst 13-56 Brooklyn Nets will result in a two-game win streak. The Nets have played better since the return of PG Lin (13.7 & 4.9 APG), who seems finally to be over his hamstring problems. However, he tweaked his ankle against Dallas and is listed as doubtful for this contest.

Detroit: The Pistons scored 65 points in the second half of their win over the Suns and that kind of offensive effort was a welcome relief. After all, Detroit had averaged a woeful 84.7 points during it three-game losing streak. The Pistons were an awful 34.9 percent from the floor in an 87-75 home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday, so the effort vs. the Suns was definite plus. Detroit is tied with Miami Heat for the eighth spot, just one game ahead of ninth-place Chicago and a half-game behind seventh-place Milwaukee. It's quite a battle for the final two playoff spots in the East.

Brooklyn: Sure, the Nets have long since worried about the playoffs but the team has been much more competitive lately, splitting six games before back-to-back close home losses to the Celtics and Mavs. Lin being out is not good news (he had averaged 16.5 points in the eight games prior to going down in the first quarter against the Mavericks) but center Brook Lopez, the team's leading scorer at 20.7 PPG, has scored at last 23 points in each of his last five, averaging 24.8 PPG in that span.

The pick: The Pistons have six double digit scorers plus backup PG Ish Smith just misses at 8.3. However, this team averages a modest 101.7 PPG, ranking just 26th out of 30 teams. Detroit has underachieved all season and why lay points on the road with a team just 11-22 SU in its away games? Make the Nets a 10* play.

The set-up: The 43-27 Utah Jazz are hoping to hold off the LA Clippers and secure the No. 4 seed in the West (Jazz currently lead the Clippers by two games). The 35-34 Indiana Pacers are currently sixth in the East but teams are bunched at the bottom of the East's standings, as the Pacers lead the ninth-place Pistons by only 1 1/2 games. Indiana has 13 games remaining (seven at home) and gets set to host Utah having alternated wins and losses over its last 13 contests

Utah: The Jazz lead the league in scoring defense (96.3 points) but one couldn't tell it this past Saturday, when Utah allowed 34 points in the fourth quarter of 95-86 loss to the Bulls. In fact,the jazz have been outscored 58-38 in the final 12 minutes of their last two games (both losses). Utah is having a fine season but injuries continue to plague this team. Currently, the Jazz are missing SG Hood (13.1 points) and PF Favors (9.6 & 6.2) plus backup PG Mack (7.3) also is listed as questionable with an ankle problem.

Indiana: Pacers' standout Paul George (22.4-6.4-3.3) returned from the break in a shooting slump but that's all in the past now, as he's averaging 26.4 PPG in March. However, PG Jeff Teague (15.0 & 7.9 APG) is just 15 of 45 shooting over his last four games while center Myles Turne (14.6 & 7.1) has scored a total of nine points over his last two. Then there is small forward C.J. Miles (10.8), who is also struggling of late, averaging 7.6 points on 14 of 39 shooting over his last five games.

The pick: Yes, Indiana is 24-10 at home but the Pacers are playing the second game of a back-to-back (got creamed 116-91 Sunday in Toronto) and are just 4-11 in the second game of back-to-back sets this season. The Jazz have won three straight meetings with the Pacers and will try to sweep the season series with Indiana for the second straight year.That's the bet. Make Utah an 8* play.

The set-up: The 26-43 Philadelphia 76ers will be in Orlando to take on the 25-45 Magic on Monday night. Both teams have been going nowhere for quite some time now but neither appears to be playing like it is readying for the draft or trying to increase their lottery odds. Both the Magic and the 76ers are coming down the stretch run of their respective seasons and look focused on wanting to win.

Philadelphia: Injuries have made it a long season for the 76ers, with No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons never 'seeing' the court. Joel Embiid (20.2 & 7.8), after sitting out two years with foot problems, was on pace to win rookie-of-the-year, before having his season cut short (31 games), because of yet another injury setback. However, fellow rookie Dario Saric's bid for ROY continued with a 23-point effort in Sunday's 105-99 victory at home over the Celtics, Saric is now averaging 12.5 PPG and 6.3 RPG on the season and will enter tonight's contest looking to score in double digits for the 20th consecutive game!

Orlando: The Magic were out West while the NCAA played games at the Amway Center. They wrapped up a three-game road trip with a 109-103 triumph at Phoenix on Friday, a victory which ended an overall four-game slide. Six players scored in double figures against the Suns, led by Evan Fournier's (16.9 PPG) 25 points. Center Nikola Vucevic (14.6 & 10.2) is averaging 17.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in his last four games, after scoring 18 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in Phoenix.

The pick: Well-known for their "tanking" strategy to stockpile high draft picks in recent years, the Sixers seem to be taking a different route this season. They've passed the Magic for the fifth-worst record in the league and have shown plenty of potential with some impressive victories. Yes, the Magic won at Phoenix in their last outing but in losing the previous four games, Orlando had allowed a whopping 119.8 points. Make Philadelphia a 10* play.

The set-up: No one expected either USC or Baylor to be meeting in a March game with the winner going to the Sweet 16, when the season opened. Neither school was in the AP's preseason top-25 and what's more, neither was among the 25 others listed in "others receiving votes," either! However, both own 26 wins on the season (Baylor has seven losses and USC, nine) as the two get set to play Sunday night in Tulsa at the BOK Center, with the winner advancing to the Sweet 16.

USC; The Trojans had to win a "play-in" game Wednesday, edging Providence to advance as an 11-seed. They then edged sixth-seeded SMU 66-65 on Friday, ending the Mustangs' 16-game winning streak (SMU had been 26-1 since a 4-3 start in Nov!). The Trojans trailed most of the game against SMU until hitting a three-pointer to put them in the lead with 2:10 left. After SMU answered, another three put the Trojans ahead 66-65 with 36 seconds left, which was the final. USC owns excellent size with its top-two scorers, the 6-10 Boatwright (15.1 & 4.5) and the 6-11 Metu (14.5 & 7.9). The perimeter features five players averaging between 7.2 and 13.0 PPG, lead by McLaughlin (13.0-3.6-5.5) and Stewart (12.3 & 4.0).

SMU: The Bears opened the season 15-0 and earned the school's first-ever No. 1 ranking in the AP poll on Jan. 9th. However, on Jan. 10th, Baylor lost 89-68 at West Va. and entered the tourney just 10-7 over its final 17 games. A 91-73 win over New Mexico St. has hardly quieted the doubters, especially considering Baylor led just 40-38 at halftime. That said, Baylor is a talented team. The 6-10 Motley, a Naismith Award semifinalist and the 16th All-American in school history. He had his 14th double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) of the season against New Mexico State despite sitting out a large chunk of the first half because of foul problems. He leads the team in scoring (17.3) and the Big 12 in rebounding (9.9) and is considered a potential NBA lottery pick. Junior PG Manu Lecomte, the Big 12's Newcomer of the Year, is second in scoring (12.3) while also shooting a team best 41.7 percent from three-point range while junior guard Al Freeman (10.2) came off the bench to score a season-high 21 points in Friday's win.

The pick: USC's head coach Larry Enfield first came to our attention when he led his "Dunk City" Florida Gulf Coast team to a Sweet 16 appearance back in 2013. Now, he has a chance to take USC there in 2017. He's already led USC to 26 wins, which is a school record, surpassing the previous mark of 25 set in 2007. Baylor's win over New Mexico State got the Bears out of a first-round slump,as Baylor had lost to 12th-seeded Yale a year ago and 14th-seeded Georgia State in 2015. This year, the second round does them in. Make USC a 10* play.

The set-up: This is hardly Tom Izzo's best team, as the ninth-seeded Spartans are just 20-14 after their impressive 78-58 win over Miami, Fl. on Friday. They will meet the top-seeded Jayhawks (No. 2 overall seed in the tourney) on Sunday, who are 29-4 after spanking UC-Davis 100-62. It may be a No. 9 seed vs. a No. 1 seed on paper but in reality, these are two of the most successful programs in college hoops. MSU has a chance at a 20th trip to the Sweet Sixteen and fifth in six years. As for Kansas, it can reach the Sweet Sixteen for the 30th time in school history.

Michigan State: Tom Izzo's Spartans are a freshman-dominated squad and as Izzo noted after the Spartans produced one of their best efforts of the season in a 78-58 win over Miami (Fl.) , "I was worried about whether these freshmen would handle the big stage, even though they've been on one, but it's still the NCAA Tournament, and the difference now is it's one-and-done time," he said. "What a cool thing to watch happen, and I'd like to keep it going a little while." 6-7 freshman swingman Bridges (16.7 & 8.3) has been the team's main man all season and he had 18 & 9 vs. Miami. The 6-8 Ward (13.9 & 6.6), another freshman, led with 19 points and added seven rebounds. MSU shot 56.6 percent as a team, while holding Miami to 40.4 percent, including 4 of 16 on threes.

Kansas: The Jayhawks won the Big 12's regular season title for the 13th straight time this year but he coach Bill Slef suspended oustanding 6-7 freshman swingman Jackson (16.4 & 7.2) for Kansas' opening game of the Big 12 tourney. The Jayhawks lost that one but Jackson  (17 & 7) was back against UC-Davis, as all five starrters scored in double digits, As always, Kansas was led by possible player-of-the-year, PG Frank Mason III (20.8-4.2-5.20. He had 22 points, five rebounds and eight assists. The 6-10 Lucas (8.1 & 8.5) is the team's best big man plus joining Mason on the perimeter are Graham (13.2 & 4.3 APG) and Mykhailiuk (9.8).

The pick: The Jayhawks are a terrific team and as noted, Mason may be POY. However, it's not like the Jayhawks haven't underachieved before in the Big Dance. Izzo is 47-18 (.723) in the NCAA Tournament for his career and owns 14 wins when Michigan State is the lower seed, which is an NCAA Tournament record. Can you say 15? Make Michigan State a 10* play.

Dallas: The Mavs beat the Nets 105-96 on Mar. 10th for a fourth straight win, but three losses in four games have followed, two of them being of the 'ugly' variety. The Mavs lost 100-78 on Mar. 13th at Toronto and then just this past Friday, lost 116-74 in Philadelphia to the 76ers. Incredibly, Dallas actually led by two points after the first quarter on Friday, before suffering its most lopsided loss of the season. The Mavericks shot 34.5 percent overall (including 21.7 percent from three-point range), while the 76ers shot 52.5%, making 12 of 29 from three. "Tonight, was by far the worst of the year in terms of energy, effort, togetherness and we all own it," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "We all own it. There is not a lot to say we got outplayed in every way possible."

Brooklyn: The Nets are playing their best basketball of the season of late with two wins over the crosstown rival New York Knicks and a close 98-95 home loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday. Granted, Friday's loss was the Nets' 18th in their last 19 home games but Brooklyn is 4-8 since the All-Star break, when Jeremy Lin returned from a second strained left hamstring. Lin (14.1 & 5.1 APG) is finally over his hamstring problems and he makes a difference. In fact, Brooklyn is 7-14 (.333) with Lin in the lineup and 6-41 (.128) without him.

The pick: When the Mavs bested the Nets in Dallas back on Mar. 10th, Brooklyn led the Dallas in the fourth quarter of that contest, despite playing without leading-scorer, center Brook Lopez (20.6).  Lopez returned from an ankle injury in the Nets' next game and is averaging 24.3 points in the last four contests while going 12-of-24 from three-point range. The last time the Mavs visited Brooklyn was back on Dec. 23, 2015, when the Mavs won 119-118 in OT. Why lay points on the road with a team struggling as much as the Mavs currently are? Make Brooklyn a 10* play.

The set-up: March Madness is known for its surprising upsets but that hasn't been the case in the 2017 edition, at least so far. The lowest seed remaining is 12th-seeded Middle Tennessee State, which can hardly be called a 'Cinderella.' MTSU upset the 2nd-seeded Spartans in last year's tourney and returned this year to win C-USA's regular season (17-1) and postseason titles, entering the tourney at 30-4. The win over fifth-seeded Minnesota on Thursday was hardly a surprise, as MTSU went off as the slight favorite in that game. Now, the Blue Raiders face the school which earned the title of "Ultimate NCAA underdog," when the Bulldogs made back-to-back championship game appearances in 2010 and 2011.

MTSU: Blue Raiders head coach Kermit Davis reminded all after the win over Minnesota that, "We're one of the top 15 teams in the country in assist to turnovers." He had just watched his team commit only eight turnovers while assisting on 19 of 28 baskets in the victory. Arkansas graduate transfer 6-8 forward JaCorey Williams (17.2 & 7.3 ), the C-USA Player of the Year, had 13 points and six rebounds against Minnesota. Junior guard Giddy Potts (15.8 & 5.4) has a team-high 76 three-pointers and the the 6-8 Upshaw (14.6 & 6.9) join Williams as this team's "Big Three." Potts had 15 points vs. Minnesota and Upshaw led in scoring (19) and rebounds (9). The Blue Raiders are also one tough defensive team, allowing just 63.6 PPG (23rd) while holding foes to 41.8 percent shooting (39th).

Butler: The Bulldogs claim to fame this season is that they've given No. 1 overall seed Villanova (also the defending champs), two of its three losses on the season. Now the Bulldogs want to make some noise in the Big Dance, as well. The team's best player and leading scorer, the 6-7 Martin (15.9 & 5.8), continues to come off the bench. Also note that the team-leader in assists, Lewis (6.5 & 4.0 APG), also does not start. Both came off the bench in Thursday's win, with Martin getting 10 & 8 and Lewis scoring nine points with eight assists. Guard Woodson (8.9) was the leading scorer (18) in the 76-64 win over Winthrop. 6-7 senior forward Andrew Chrabascz (11.0 & 4.6) added 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in the win.

The pick: Butler has its highest seed ever at No. 4 but note that it hasn’t advanced to the Sweet 16 since losing the national championship games in 2010 and 2011. Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders have already set a school record for wins (31) and have won 20 of their last 21 games. MTSU owns wins this season over SEC schools Ole Miss and Vanderbilt and as coach Davis said, "We think we belong on a national stage." I'm with him and will make MTSU an 8* play.

The set-up: The NCAA's second round begins Saturday with eight games. Third-seeded Florida State survived an upset bid from No. 14 seed Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday, winning 86-80 for the school's first NCAA Tournament win since 2012. 11th-seeded Xavier was a small underdog to No. 6 Maryland but took care of the Terps, 76-65. NCAA success is nothing new for the Musketeers, who will be trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in 10 years!

Xavier: Some may have forgotten by now but Xavier opened the season ranked 7th in the AP's preseason poll but when PG Edmond Sumner (14.3 PPG and 4.3 APG) was lost for the season at the end of January, the Musketeers’ season beagn to unravel. The team lost six in a row from Feb. 11 through Mar. 1 but a pair of wins in the Big East tourney (one over Butler), allowed 21-13 Xavier to claim one of the last at-large berths (11-seed). Freshman Quentin Goodin (5.1 & 3.4 APG) has assumed the PG position and has averaged 5.5 APG since taking over as the starter and that includes a career-high nine in Thursday's win over Maryland. He's got an excellent pair of guards to work with on the perimeter in leading scorer Bluiett (18.2 & 5.7) and J.P. Macura (14.4). Bluiett had 21 points against Maryland (18 in the second half) for his 17th 20-point performance this season. Xavier does not own a dominant post player but has size in 6-10 O’Mara (5.9 & 2.9) and the 6-9 RaShid Gaston (7.8 & 6.3 rebounds). Gaston was great vs. Maryland, scoring 18 points and grabbing seven rebounds.

Florida State: The Seminoles advanced past Florida Gulf Coast despite some sloppy play (16 turnovers) and too many missed free throws (15), especially when trying to close out the game. However, FSU's new-founded offensive potential got them through. The Seminoles have always been know for their defense in the "Hamilton era" but this year's team averages 82.6 PPG (17th) on 48.5% shooting (18th). Guard Dwayne Bacon (17.1 & 4.2) is the team's leading scorer and he had 25 points against the Eagles while 6-10 freshman forward Jonathan Isaac (12.1 & 7.7) had 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. The Seminoles also blocked nine shots in the game and got double-digit scoring from PG Xavier Rathan-Mayes (10.4 & 4.9 APG) and wing Terance Mann (8.6 & 4.7), as Mayes had 10-5-5 and Mann chipped in 11 points..

The pick. Xavier has much more experience at winning come this time of year and the team's win over Maryland gives them nine straight neutral-site wins in Florida, including seven in a row here in Orlando. The Musketeers are also 13-1 when holding opponents under 70 points. However, here's the rub. I noted already that this FSU scores MUCH more than recent editions and the Seminoles have failed to reach 70 points only four times in 34 games, so far. What's more, while Orlando has served as a neutral-site for Xavier, that's hardly the case here against the school from Tallahasse. I took Xavier over Maryland and wrote; "Xavier’s undoing in March will likely be its lack of a dominant post player, but that will not be the case against a small and young (outside of Trimble) Maryland team." FSU has a first round NBA draft pick in the 6-10 Isaac plus the 7-1 Ojo and the 7-4 Koumadji combined for 13 points, five rebounds and six blocks in Thursday's with. Add in a perimeter game that's the equal of Xavier and FSU is a 10* play.

The set-up: The 30-37 Portland Trail Blazers are hoping to track down the Denver Nuggets for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. The Trail Blazers are currently in ninth-place but have fallen 2 1/2 games back of the Nuggets. Portland will be in Atlanta tonight to take on the 37-31 Hawks, who are the East's No. 5 seed, 2 1/2 games back of Toronto (No. 4 seed) and two games up on Indiana (No. 6 seed).

Portland: The Blazers won the opener of their five-game road trip at Phoenix on Sunday but suffered an 'ugly' 100-77 loss at New Orleans on Tuesday. However, they were able to win 110-106 the very next night at San Antonio. "Well, that had to be to be probably our best win of the year," Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts told reporters. "To beat a team like San Antonio on the road, and not only that, but how we won, I thought it was one of our better games as far as staying focused throughout the game. Withstanding some of their runs, the crowd, a lot of good performances." All season long, the Blazers have been led by the backcourt duo of Lillard (26.5-4.9-5.8) and McCollum (23.3) However, if Portland is able to catch Denver, the reason will likely be the play of the 7-0 Nurkic, who Portland acquired from Denver in a swap of centers (Plumee was sent to the Nuggets). It was an "under the radar deal," but Nurkic is averaging 14.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.6 APG and 1.5 BPG in his 12 games (11 starts) with the Blazers.

Atlanta: The Hawks are close enough to the fourth-place Raptors to consider homecourt advantage in the first round if they can pull out of their current rut but then again, Atlanta is just 19-16 at home this year (18-15 on the road). Unlike Portland, Atlanta didn't have much luck at San Antonio (a 107-99 loss on Monday) plus then followed that with another homecourt disappointment, losing 103-91 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday. The Hawks had just beaten the Grizzlies by 17 points in Memphis five days earlier!

The pick: Portland is one of eight Atlanta opponents in the next nine games that has a losing record, but the Blazers are 6-2 in March. Also, while the Hawks have won five straight against the Trail Blazers, including an OT win at Portland back on Feb. 13, the Blazers now have an inside presence in Nurkic. Make Portland a 10* play.

The set-up: Marquette's 19-12 record was just good enough to earn an at-large bid (10-seed) to the NCAA tourney. The Golden Eagles are back in the tournament after qualifying for eight straight seasons (from 2006 to 2013), before missing out the last three years. South Carolina went 12-6 in SEC play and 22-10 overall, earning an at-large bid as well (7-seed), returning to the Big Dance for the first time in 13 years! The Gamecocks hope to get some home cookin' for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004, as they face Marquette in Greenville, S.C.

Marquette: The Golden Eagles own superb balance, with seven players averaging between 8.7 and 13.2 PPG. All but one of those seven are guards, with 6-11 Fisher (11.0 & 5.9) being the team's best rebounder. However, he's got a shoulder injury and the 6-11 Heldt (2.4 & 2.9) is not much of a replacement. Howard (13.2) is the leading scorer for a team averaging 82.5 PPG (18th) and shoots 54.9% on threes, for a team first in the nation in three-point shooting (43.0%)! Rowsey (11.5 & 2.3 APG), a 5-10 guard and UNC Asheville transfer, has come on since taking over the point guard duties,scoring 18 points or more in seven of the last 11 games for Marquette.

South Carolina: Frank Martin's team got off to a strong start, winning 19 of its first 23 games but stumbled a bit down the stretch, dropping six of nine contests. The Gamecocks are led by SEC Player of the Year Sindarius Thornwell, who tops the team in scoring (21.0) and rebounding (7.2). He's joined in the backcourt by Dozier (13.6) and Notice (10.1) plus with Fisher out or playing at less than 100% for Marquette, the 6-9 Silva (9.8 & 5.7) and the 6-10 Kotsar (5.9 & 5.0) could make an impact in this contest. South Carolina doesn't score as much as Marquette, averaging 72.1 PPG (205th) plus doesn't shoot nearly as well (41.5% ranks 310th). However, the team plays excellent defense, allowing 64.5 PPG (27th) and holds opponents to 29.3% behind the arc (5th).

The pick: Frank Martin is the more seasoned coach, as this is Steve Wojciechowski's first NCAA appearance. It could come down to strength vs. strength, as Marquette's the nation's top three-point shooting team and South Carolina ranks fifth in stopping three-pointers! History tells us that South Carolina hasn't won an NCAA game since 1973, losing all six first round games, since. Marquette is playing better basketball coming in and while South Carolina owns the best player on the court in Thornwell, Marquette owns the better overall team. Marquette is a 10* play.

The set-up: The 43-25 Boston Celtics are 1 1/2 games up on the Washington Wizards for the East's No. 2 seed. They are also just 2 1/2 games back of the top-seeded Cavs but head out on a two-game road trip tonight (first stop, Brooklyn), playing without star PG Isaiah Thomas (29.2 & 6.0 APG). Thomas will not travel with the team on the trip as he rests a right knee bone bruise, the team announced Thursday. The Nets are an NBA-worst 13-54 but continue to show some level of improvement, having won four of their last nine.

Boston: Playing without Thomas makes life tough but fortunately Avery Bradley looks to be back near 100 percent. The team's seconding-leading scorer (16.9) and rebounder (5.2), is also the team's best perimeter defender. It's also goods news that center Al Horford (14.0 & 5.4) is back to playing well. He was slumping offensively before sitting out a pair of games earlier this month but he has bounced back nicely, averaging 14.3 points while shooting 65.8 percent from the floor and making 5-of-7 three-pointers in a four-game span. Marcus Smart (10.8 & 4.4 APG) is expected to fill Thomas' role at the point.

Brooklyn: Making the Nets' recent so-called "surge" even sweeter is that they've beaten their in-city rivals (New York Knicks) twice in a span of five days. Brook Lopez led a balanced attack with 24 points in Brooklyn's 121-110 victory at Madison Square Garden last night. Jeremy Lin (14.3 & 5.0 APG) is finally over his hamstring problems and he makes a difference. In fact, Brooklyn is 7-13 with Lin in the lineup and 6-41 without him. Swingman Hollis-Jefferson (8.3 & 5.3) finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds last night, for his second double-double in a span of three games (he is shooting 54.3 percent since the All-Star break!).

The pick: The Celtics have been able to use their preferred starting-five just 28 times this season, going 21-7 (.750) but with variation of that lineup they are a more modest 22-18 (.550). The last time Thomas missed time, the Celtics were just 1-3, averaging 102 PPG, down from 107.2 on the season. Lin is back, Lopez (team's leading scorer at 20.5 PPG) has scored at least 24 points in three straight contests and the entire team seems to much looser. Make Brooklyn a 10* play.

The set-up: Creighton opened No. 22 in the AP's preseason poll and Rhode Island at No. 23. Creighton opened 18-1 (ranked No. 7) after beating Xavier on Jan 16 but lost star PG Maurice Watson Jr. to injury in that game. Watson was averaging 12.9 PPG and an NCAA-leading 8.5 APG. The Blue Jays finished the regular season 5-7 but then beat NCAA-bound Providence and Xavier in the big East tourney, before losing to Villanova in the title game. At 25-9, Creighton get s a No. 6 seed. Rhode Island stumbled to begin the season and was just 12-7 (4-3 in A-10) through Jan. 25. However, the Rams enter the Big Dance having won 12 of 14, including eight in a row after sweeping through (three wins) the A-10 tourney

Rhode Island: The Rams are 24-9 and a No. 11 seed, making the school's first Big Dance since 1999. Rhode Island's "Core 4" are guards Mathews (14.9 & 4.2) and Terrell (12.5) plus the 6-7 Martin (14.1 & 7.0) and the 6-9 Iverson (9.4 & 7.4). The Rams come in full of confidence and are hoping their defense can hold the Blue Jays in check. Rhode Island allows just 64.9 PPG (31st) and holds opponents to only 29.0% from three (3rd).

Creighton: The loss of Watson really hurt but wins over Providence and Xavier in the Big East tourney have allowed Creighton to regain some of its mojo. SG Foster (18.3) has been terrific plus Thomas been a nice backcourt partner, averaging 12.4 & 5.7 while also being named Big East Defensive Player of the Year. The 7-0 Patton (13.1 & 6.2) has been one of the nation's more influential freshman and the 6-8 Huff (9.2 & 3.9) has been a steady presence all season.

The pick: Both teams have played well on neutral courts, Rhode Island going 4-1 and Creighton 5-1. "We came into the tournament on a roll," Rhode Island guard Matthews told the Providence Journal. "We took care of business -- made history." I'm not sure just what "history" his team is made but the Rams' defense will be severely tested by a Creighton offense averaging 82.1 PPG (19th) on 50.8% shooting (3rd). The Bluejays are making their sixth postseason and fourth NCAA tourney appearance in Greg McDermott’s seven seasons at the helm and are my 10* play in this one.

The set-up: Oklahoma State opened its Big 12 schedule 0-6 but rebounded to finish 9-9 in league play and 20-12 overall, earning a No. 10 seed. Michigan knows all about slow starts as well, as the Wolverines were just 14-9 (4-6 in Big Ten play) through Feb. 4th. However, Michigan won nine of its last 11 games, including four in four days to win the Big Ten tourney. At 24-11, Michigan enters the Big Dance as a No. 7 seed.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys won 10 of 11 games from Jan. 21 through Feb. 25 and despite losing their last three games (twice to Iowa St. and once to Kansas), was able to make the tourney field, after missing out in 2016, which ended a run of four straight NCAA appearances. Oklahoma State is led by PG Jawun Evans (19.0 & 6.2 APG), who was named to the All-Big 12 First Team. Yes, OSU enters on a three-game slide but don't blame Evans, as he averaged 26.7 PPG during that span. Evans' backcourt partner Forte (13.3) joins him in double digits (note: Forte leads the nation in free-throw percentage at 95.3%), as does 6-6 forward Carroll (17.4 & 6.6). Carroll has 15, 20-point games this season.

Michigan: It was quite a finishing kick by the Wolverines, one which was capped by an impressive 71-56 victory over Wisconsin in Sunday's championship game (Michigan's first conference tournament championship since 1998!). Derrick Walton Jr. was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten tournament after averaging 20.5 points and 6.3 assists in the Wolverines' four victories. PG Walton (15.2-4.7-4.7) leads the team in scoring on the season, followed by backcourt partner Irvin (12.8-4.5-3.0). Michigan has size up front in the 6-11 Wagner (12.0 & 4.2) and the 6-10 Wilson (10.6 & 5.4).

The pick: Michigan head coach John Beilein is one of the game's best and the Wolverines are 6-0 in neutral-site games this season However, as he cautioned, "We've handled prosperity thus far, but now, we have to handle it again with a difficult game Friday." The Cowboys have not won an NCAA tournament game since 2009 and unlike the seasoned Beilein, OSU has a first-year head coach in Brad Underwood. However, while I believe the Big Ten was a mediocre league this year, no one questions the quality of play in the Big 12. Note that OSU may enter on a three-game slide but remember, those losses game against just two teams, Iowa St (Big 12 tourney champ) and Kansas, winner of 13 straight Big 12 regular season tiles). Make Oklahoma St. an 8* play.

The set-up: Iowa State won the Big 12 tourney for the third time in four years. The Cyclones enter the Big Dance having won nine of their last 10 and at 23-10, were given a No. 5 seed. The Nevada Wolf Pack added the MWC tourney title to the school's regular season title and has won nine in a row to reach 28-6 (Nevada is a 12-seed). This marks Iowa State's sixth straight NCAA appearance while for Nevada, the Wolf Pack will be 'dancing' for the first time in 10 years!

Nevada: Head coach Eric Musselman told the Reno Gazette-Journal, "It's been our year-long goal, so obviously everybody feels great about seeing our name up there. It's great exposure for the university, and now we have to put some work in and figure out a way to compete with Iowa State." Nevada led the Mountain West in scoring at 80.0 points per game. Senior guard Marcus Marshall, a transfer from Missouri State, leads the team with 19.8 PPG (3.6 APG). The Wolf Pack are a perimeter-oriented team, starting three guards, Fenner (14.1) and PG Drew (5.9-4.8) join Marshall, along with swingman Caroline (14.8 & 9.2) plus 6-8 forward Oliver (15.8 & 8.7).

Iowa State: The Cyclones are also a guard-oriented team, led by PG Monte Morris (16.3 & 6.1 APG). He holds school career records for assists and steals. Fellow guard Naz Mitrou-Long is averaging 15.5 points and is a high-volume 3-point shooter (94 of 244, 38.5 percent). The 6-5 Deonte Burton can score from outside or above the rim and averages 14.8 PPG and leads the team in rebounding at 6.2 per. Thomas is a fourth guard in double digits (12.0 & 3.8) plus a pair of 6-8 fowards play just under 20 minutes per game, Bowie (5.8 & 4.1) and Young (5.1 & 4.1).

Th pick: Nevada can score but so can Iowa State, which averages 80.9 PPG against a tougher schedule, while shooting 40.2% on threes (13th in the nation). This game is being at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, which is less than 400 miles from Ames, as well as being the hometown of three Iowa State players. Iowa State owns a huge edge at experience on this level, especially Morris, who has played in two Sweet 16s and has seven NCAA games under his belt. Iowa State is an 8* play.

The set-up: The 40-28 LA Clippers figured that Chris Paul's return would spark the team but since his return, the Clippers have gone just 5-6 after last night's one-point home loss to the Bucks. Paul (17.7-5.1-9.2) had scored 30 and 33 points in his previous two games but had just six points last night, on 2 of 10 shooting. LA travels off that one-point loss to Denver, to take on the 32-25 Nuggets, who still cling to the West's eighth and final playoff spot by two games.

LA Clippers: Head coach Doc Rivers kept power forward Blake Griffin (21.3-8.5-5.1) and center DeAndre Jordan (12.5 & 13.5) home to rest with Saturday's home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers looming on the agenda, so the Clippers will be short-handed. The Clippers are now three games behind the fourth-place Utah Jazz in the West, after suffering that 97-96 home loss to the Bucks on Wednesday. The absences of Griffin and Jordan will open up playing time for nearly everyone on the roster and that might not be a bad thing in the mind of Rivers. "Young players have to be taught how to win," Rivers told reporters after the loss to the Bucks. "They know how to play. They haven't figured out how to do it and win at the same time."If you ask me, Rivers is trying to "sell something!"

Denver: The Nuggets are working hard to secure that No. 8 seed in the West and will be looking for their fourth consecutive win and eighth in the past 11 games tonight against the Clippers. Like LA, Denver will be shorthanded as well, as forwards Danilo Gallinari (knee), Wilson Chandler (groin) and Darrell Arthur (rest) will all miss the contest. Power forward Kenneth Faried (back) returned to practice Wednesday after missing the previous nine games and is listed as questionable. Gallinari is the team's leading scorer (17.7) and Chandler is tied with Jokic at 16.1 PPG. Center Nikola Jokic recorded 18 points and nine rebounds against the Lakers in Denver's 129-101 Monday win, falling one rebound shy of his seventh straight double-double. He's really come into his own this year, averaging 16.1 & 9.4.

The pick: Both teams will be missing key players but I'll side with the home team, which is playing much more consistent basketball at this time. Denver is a 10* play.

The set-up: The 37-30 Memphis Grizzlies broke a five-game losing streak by winning their last two games and now sit just one-half game behind sixth-place Oklahoma City in the West. The 37-30 Atlanta Hawks are currently 5th in the East but have hopes of catching the Toronto Raptors for fourth place in the East, which would give them homecourt advantage in a potential first-round playoff series.

Memphis: Wins on the road this week over Milwaukee (113-93) and Chicago (98-91) have been sparked by a return to playing better defense. Defense has been a Memphis trademark for years but during its five-game slide, it had become a liability with the Grizzlies allowing 114.0 PPG during its slide. "We're getting there," Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale told reporters after the win. "I like the way our defense is starting to come back to us, but I'm never going to get comfortable with our group. They haven't been consistent enough to show me that I can let off the gas now." Memphis will be without forward Chandler Parsons for the rest of the season. He was diagnosed with a partial tear of his left meniscus. He was averaging 6.2 points and had started 34 games. That will likely put more pressure on 40-year-old Vince Carter to pick up the slack.Center Gasol (20.2-6.1-4.5) and PG Conley (20.0-3.6-6.2) each had 27 points against Chicago and that duo will be counted on heavily down the stretch.

Atlanta: In order for the Hawks to catch the Raptors, they will need to start taking care of business in their home arena. Atlanta is just 19-15 on its own floor as it begins a two-game homestand against the Memphis on Thursday. The Hawks are only 5-7 over their last 12 overall games, after falling 107-99 at San Antonio on Monday. The defeat was the Hawks' 16th straight in San Antonio! Millsap (18.2 & 7.8) and center Howard (13.2 & 12.9) are both having solid seasons but PG Schroder (17.9 & 6.3 APG) and backup SG Tim Hardaway Jr. (13.7) may have more to do with Atlanta catching Toronto. Schroder is looking to score more and he has finished in double digits in points in a career-best 16 consecutive games. Hardaway has taken advantage of an increased role since the trade of Kyle Korver to Cleveland by scoring in double digits in 21 of his last 22 games.

The pick:The Hawks posted a 107-90 victory over the Grizzlies just this past Saturday (their third straight win in the series). The Hawks connected on 15 of 30 three-pointers in that game, while the Grizzlies shot an abysmal 5 of 29 (17.2 percent) from beyond the arc! The door is open for the Hawks to make a run at fourth-place Toronto, as only two of Atlanta's next 10 opponents have a winning record. That's not the case with Memphis but the Grizzlies haven't won in Atlanta since Feb. 8, 2014 and are playing the second of back-to-back games here. Make Atlanta an 8* play.

The set-up: Xavier opened the season ranked 7th in the AP's preseason poll but when PG Edmond Sumner (14.3 PPG and 4.3 APG) was lost for the season at the end of January, the Musketeers’season beagn to unravel. The team lost six in a row from Feb. 11 through Mar. 1 but a pair of wins in the Big East tourney (one over Butler), allowed 21-13 Xavier to claim one of the last at-large berths (11-seed). Maryland opened the year at No. 25 but in games through Jan, was 20-2, including 8-1 in Big Ten play. However, a 4-6 finish left Maryland as a No. 6 seed.

Xavier: Sumner was a terrific complement to Trevon Bluiett (18.1 & 5.8), Xavier's best player. Fellow guard J.P. Macura (14.5 & 4.4) has picked up some of the scoring slack but Xavier misses Sumner’s ball-handling skills with freshman Quentin Goodin (4.8 & 3.2 APG) taking over the point guard spot. Xavier’s best frontcourt player is the 6-9 Gaston, who averages modest totals of 7.9 PPG and 6.4 RPG).

Maryland: The Terps are led by junior guard Trimble (17.0-3.7-3.7) but it's hard to make a case form him living up to expectations this year. He took himself out of the 2016 draft to improve his standing but he's had an inconsistent season. The rest of Maryland's main contributors are freshman. There is guard Cowan (10.5-3.9-3.7) and a pair of 6-7 players, Jackson (10.4 & 6.1) and Hueter (9.0 & 5.0).

The pick: Both teams are lucky to be here but both own historically strong programs. Two competing streaks are on the line, as Maryland has won at least one game in 12 straight NCAA Tournament appearances dating back to 1998. As for Xavier, the Musketeers have won eight straight neutral-site games in Florida, including six in a row here in Orlando. Xavier’s undoing here in March will likely be its lack of a dominant post player, but that will not be the case against a small and young (outside of Trimble) Maryland team. Xavier is a 10* play.

The set-up: 22-10 Virginia out of the ACC is a No. 5 seed and 29-5 UNC-Wilmington, the CAA's regular season and postseason champ, comes in as a No. 12 seed. The teams square off in a first round game from Orlando, Fl. (East Region) with an early tip (12:40 ET). The Cavaliers are the nation's stingiest team, allowing just 55.6 PPG, while Seahawks average 85.2 PPG, which ranks 10th in the nation.

UNC-Wilmington: The Seahawks have a trio of guards averaging in double figures, with Bryce (17.6 & 5.5) being joined on the perimeter by Flemmings (15.8 & 5.5) and PG Ingram (14.5 & 5.4 APG). The Seahawks like to push the pace and shoot threes (326 three-pointers was good for 14th in the country). However, the Seahawks lack size and often count 6-7 sophomore forward Devontae Cacok as the tallest player on the floor surrounded by guards that push the tempo. However, Cook is an effective player, averaging 12.3 PPG and a team-high 9.6 RPG.

Virginia: Naturally, the Cavaliers will try do everything they can to control the tempo, while trying desperately to score some points of their own. Senior PG London Perrantes (12.5 & 3.8 APG) is the only Cav averaging in double figures and he was held to three points on 1-of-9 shooting in the loss to Notre Dame that knocked Virginia out of the ACC tourney. Virginia doesn't have much size either, as its best frontcourt player is the 6-7 Wilkins (7.0 & 6.2) and he's dealing with an illness and his availability against Wilmington is in question. Bottom line is, Virginia averages only 66.6 PPG (313th).

The pick: OK, the Virginia defense led the nation in points allowed and held six different opponents under 45 points, as defense has been the calling card for the Cavaliers under head coach Tony Bennett. However,  UNC-Wilmington averages 85.2 points and reached 100 seven times during the season. The Cavaliers lost four straight games in February (12th-20th), as their offense sputtered. Can they do enough on that end of the floor to make a deep tournament run? How about, can they do enough to even get past Wilmington? Remember, the Seahawks (with pretty much the same team) scared fourth-seeded Duke last spring, before falling 93-85. As for Virginia, the Cavaliers have lost to a team seeded three or more slots lower than them in each of their last three Big Dance appearances. UNC-Wilmington is an 8* play.

The set-up: The 42-25 Utah Jazz open a four-game road trip in Detroit against the 33-34 Pistons. The Jazz have won five of their last six and currently own the No. 4 seed in the West, sitting two games up on the Clippers. Detroit sits seventh in the Eastern Conference and had won 12 of 18 games prior to being smoked 128-96 in Cleveland on Monday. "It was just a bad night," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters. "They were great, we were terrible. That is why you get a lopsided game."

Utah: The Jazz have had a superb season, despite numerous injuries to key players. New PG Hill (17.4 & 4.2 APG) has missed 20 games, SG Hood (13.4) has missed 19 plus two key players from last year, PF Favors (16.4 & 8.1 LY) and SG Burks (13.3 LY) have not been the same. Favors has missed 20 games (he's expected to miss his fourth straight contest tonight) and he's off last year's numbers at 9.6 & 6.2. Burks didn't get back on the court until Jan. 2 and his scoring has been cut in almost half (7.5). The team's best player, SF Hayward (22.0-5.5-3.5) sat out the season's first seven games but he's missed just one since and is producing a career year. Center Rudy Gobert missed Saturday's game against Oklahoma City but returned to post 11 points and 10 rebounds versus the Clippers in Monday's 114-108 home win, his fourth straight double-double and 46th of the season. Gobert averages 13.1 & 12.7 on the season and makes 65.0 percent of his FG attempts!

Detroit: The Pistons own an excellent seven-man rotation but as I've said before, the total seems less than the sum of this team's parts. Leading scorer forward Tobias Harris (16.4 & 5.2) is averaging 20.0 points in three games since returning to the starting lineup and 19.2 PPG over his last six contests. Center Andre Drummond (14.8 & 13.9) collected 14 rebounds against Cleveland but fell two points short of his ninth double-double in the last 10 games. PG Reggie Jackson (14.9 & 5.4 APG) had only six points on 3-of-13 shooting against Cleveland and has been streaky this month, scoring 19 or or more four times and eight or fewer in the other three games. This team is an enigma!

The pick: The Pistons won the season series a year ago but the Jazz crushed the Pistons in the first meeting this year, 110-77 back on Jan. 13 in Salt Lake City. Note that the Pistons have lost eight of their last 10 home games to the Jazz. Make it nine of theri last 11, as Utah is an 8* play.

The set-up: The 28-38 Dallas Mavericks have been trying to climb into the No. 8 spot in the West but it hasn't much helped that they have lost their last two, including an 'ugly' 100-78 defeat at Toronto on Monday, in the opener of a four-game road trip. It surely doesn't get any easier for Dallas tonight, as the Mavs face the 41-25 Washington Wizards, who are battling the Celtics for the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference (currently trail Boston by a half-game) and also hold out hope that they can still catch the East's top-team, the 44-22 Cavs.

Dallas: Monday's setback dropped Dallas 3 1/2 games behind the eighth-place Denver Nuggets with just 16 games to play. It was the team's second straight poor shooting performance, as the Mavs shot 36.5 percent from the foor in Toronto, after only shooting 37.8 percent in a 100-98 home loss to the Suns on Saturday. The Mavs have gotten steady paly all season from Harrison Barnes (20.0 & 5.2) and Dirk (14.2 & 6.8) has gotten healthier as the season has progressed. Recently, Seth Curry and Yogi Farrell have added a spark out of the backcourt plus Nerlens Noel, acquired from Philly, averaged 9.1 & 5.6 in about 24 minutes in his first six games with Dallas. However, he has missed the last three games due to soreness in his left knee. That said, he is expected to return for Wednesday's game.

Washington: The Wizards are just back from a five-game road trip and after winning the first four, ran out of gas in Minnesota on Monday, falling 119-104. The Wizards have an excellent starting-five, led by the guard duo of Beal (23.2) and Wall (23.1-4.4-10.7) plus a trio of frontcourt starters all averaging in double digits (center Gortat averages a double-double, at 11.4 & 11.0). Washington had been missing a scoring punch off the bench but solved that problem by trading for Bojan Bogdanovic, who has averaged 15.6 PPG in his 11 games with the Wizards, connecting on 45.6% of his threes.

The pick: The Mavs beat the Wizards 113-105 in Dallas back on Jan. 3 but Washington has gone 25-7 since that contest. Scoring has been an issue for the Mavs all season (98.1 PPG ranks 30th) but note that on its recent five-game road trip, the Wizards allowed at least 113 points in each game, despite going 4-1. Take the points and make Dallas an 8* play.

The set-up: Danny Manning took the Wake Forest job prior to the 2014-15 season and had two lean years in which Wake was 13-19 and 11-19, going a combined 7-29 in ACC play. However, 2016-17 has been a breakthrough season, with Wake winning 19 games and going 9-9 in ACC regular season play, good enough to earn Wake Forest its first trip to the Big Dance since 2009-10. Kansas State's Bruce Weber knows a little something about NCAA visit, starting with back-to-back appearances with Southern Illinois in 2002 and '03. Then it was on to Illinois where he went to six in nine seasons including finishing second to North Carolina in 2005  with a 37-2 record. He took Kansas St. to NCAA trips in his first two seasons ('13 & '14) but 15-17 and 17-16 seasons followed. However, the Wildcats ended a two-year NCAA Tournament drought this season despite an 8-10 mark in Big 12 play, 'sneaking' into the field of 68 largely on the strength of three top-25 victories, two over Baylor and one against West Virginia.

Wake Forest: The 6-10 John Collins won the Big 12's Most Improved Player award and finished second in the ACC Player of the Year balloting, ranking third in the ACC in scoring (18.9 points) as well as second in rebounding (9.8) and first in field-goal percentage (62.0%). He's got a 6-10 partner up front in Mitoglou (9.0 & 6.2) plus the 6-6 Arians adds 8.3 PPF but just 1.9 RPG. The starting guards are Crawford (16.1-3.8-5.4) and Woods (12.8-4.3-3.5). Crawford and Collins are the first Wake Forest duo since Tim Duncan and Childress to record 500 points in the same season.

Kansas State: Weber's team has great balance, as all five starters score between 9.4 and 12.5 PPG. Brown (11.7) and Stokes (11.6 & 4.3 APG) are the guards with the 6-7 Iwundu (12.5-6.4-3.4) leading the team in scoring up front. He's joined by the 6-9 Johnson (11.2 & 5.8) and the 6-10 Wade (9.4 & 4.6) plus Sneed is a 6-5 small forward (7.4 & 2.6) coming off the bench.

The pick: Wake is a high scoring team (82.7 PPG ranks 16th) but one which also allows too many points (77.9 PPG ranks 301st). Kansas State scores about 11 PPG less than Wake at 71.7 PPG but also allows 11 PPG less, at 66.9 PPG (56th). Coming down the stretch, KSU held Texas Tech to 48 points in its regular season finale, then upset Baylor 70-64 in the Big 12 tourney, before losing 51-50 to West Va. Doing the math, the Wildcats have allowed 54.0 PPG in their last three. Defense wins this time of year! Kansas State is a 10* play.

The set-up: The 37-29 Oklahoma City Thunder are 4 1/2 games back of the Jazz in the Northwest Division and currently own the 6th-seed in the West, just a half-game ahead of the Grizzlies. They visit Barkley Center tonight (weather-permitting) to take on the NBA-worst Brooklyn Nets (12-53) but the Nets have won three of their last seven games, which matches their best seven-game stretch of the season.

Oklahoma City: The story all season in OKC has been Russell Westbrook's run at history. He passed Wilt Chamberlain for second place on the single-season list with his 32nd triple-double in Saturday's 112-104 win over the Utah Jazz and now trails only Oscar Robertson's 41 in 1961-62, when the Big O averaged a triple-double for the season. Westbrook (31.9-10.5-10.1) is on pace to match Oscar's triple-double season and it's hard to ignore that Oklahoma City is 26-6 when Westbrook notches a triple-double and 11-23 when he doesn't this season. However, the team is sure better off when Victor Oladipo (16.3 PPG) is healthy and Westbrook's backcourt partner is averaging 19.3 points on 55.3 percent shooting in three games since returning from a back injury (OKC is 2-1 SU & ATS)..

Brooklyn: The Nets snapped a 16-game home losing streak that spanned 75 days (going back to Dec. 26) when they beat the Knicks 120-112 on Sunday. As noted above, they are on a 3-4 run, which had been preceded by a 16-game losing streak, overall. Jeremy Lin is finally recovered from that hamstring injury (he's been back the last nine games) and he is averaging 16.6 points in the last five games despite playing 27 or fewer minutes in each of those contests (Nets have covered four in a row).

The pick: Yes, the Nets are playing better but with Oladipo back healthy plus the additions of Gibson and McDermott from Chicago, I don't expect the Thunder to get derailed by the league's worst defensive team (Nets allow 114.1 PPG). OKC is a 10* play.

The set-up: The 24-43 Orlando Magic have won just eight of their last 31 games and will shortly be officially eliminated from playoff contention, as the team is nine games out with just 15 remaining. The Kings are closer in the West but having gone 1-8 since trading away All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins (note: the Kings won their first game after the trade but have now lost EIGHT in a row), Sacramento is almost surely lottery-bound as well.

Orlando: Center Nikola Vucevic (14.4 & 10.2) returned from an Achilles issue to produce 20 points and 16 rebounds in Saturday's game with the Cavs bit the Magic lost anyway, 116-104. However, the Magic are eager to see if Vucevic's return improves things (he played for the first time in five games). Before that absence, he and starters Terrence Ross, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton were outscoring opponents by 22 points per 100 possessions since the All-Star break, the best mark in the NBA, according to the league's official statistics.

Sacramento: The Kings have not only lost eight in a row overall but they've lost six straight at home and are now six games behind the eighth-place Nuggets in the West. "We're still trying to figure everything out," forward Skal Labissiere told reporters. "It's been a tough stretch. It's just a matter of learning how to finish games with us." No kidding!

The pick: The Kings will take an eight-game losing streak into this matchup with the Magic and the team's next loss will clinch its 11th consecutive losing season. That "next loss" will certainly come but not here. Cauley-Stein is averaging 34 minutes, 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in nine games since Sacramento traded forward DeMarcus Cousins at the All-Star break and backup Skal Labissiere is averaging 15.1 minutes, 8.3 points and 5.1 rebounds. Meanwhile, the focal point of the deal was guard Buddy Hield. He is averaging 13.9 points in 26 minutes, while shooting 51.2 percent from three-point range since joining the Kings. Make the Kings an 8* play.

The set-up: The Chicago Bulls were embarrassed Sunday at Boston on ABC, losing 100-80 to the Celtics. It was the team's fifth straight loss (a season-high) and now it's on to Charlotte to take on the 29-37 Hornets, who are two games back of the Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings Chicago is 10th at 31-35 and Charlotte 11th, with both teams chasing 32-35 Miami and all three teams chasing 32-33 Milwaukee, which currently owns the final playoff spot in the East.

Chicago: It doesn't get much worse than it was for the Bulls on Sunday, as they scored nine first-quarter points and had just 26 at the half. All Star Jimmy Butler (23.4-6.2-5.1) was limited to five points on 2-of-11 shooting, as Chicago was held under 100 points for the sixth straight time. Dwyane Wade (18.7-4.6-3.9) joined Butler with a poor performance of his own Sunday, as he was held to eight points and failed to hand out an assist for the first time since Nov. 5.

Charlotte: The Hornets know all about slumps, as they lost 12 of 13 from Jan. 23-Feb. 23. However, since a six-point overtime loss in Detroit, the Hornets are 5-4. Still, by going 6-16 in their last 22 games, the Hornets has dropped to 11th, two games behind Chicago and 3 1/2 behind Milwaukee. I'm not sure what to make of the Hornets, who opened 8-3 and looked like a solid playoff team early on. Walker (23.2-4.1-5.4) is an All Star and backcourt partner Batum (15.4-6.7-5.9) has produced excellent numbers. The team has excellent depth but the whole seems less than the sum of this team's parts.

The pick: The Bulls scored nine points in the first quarter on Sunday plus missed their first 12 shots and 19 of their first 22 attempts, all in front of a national television audience. That makes five straight losses (three by double-digits) and six straight games of failing to reach 100 points. It CAN'T get worse, right? The underachieving Hornets, who are on a 7-14-2 ATS run, may be just what the doctor ordered. Make Chicago a 10* play.

The set-up: The 41-25 Boston Celtics return home after a 2-3 road trip and have fallen behind the streaking Wizards (41-24), for the East's second-best record. They begin a favorable stretch of games Sunday, when they host the visiting Chicago Bulls, who are 31-34 on the season and currently in 10th-place in the East (one game back of the final playoff spot).

Chicago: The Bulls hung on to their best player, Jimmy Butler (23.7-6.2-5.2), at the trade deadline but moved Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott. Not that trading Butler was a good idea but I'm not sure how trading Gibson and McDermott was a plus. Dwyane Wade (18.9-4.6-3.9) returned from a thigh injury to score a team-high 21 points but his teammates combined to shoot 36.3 percent from the floor in Friday's 115-94 home loss to Houston. It marked Chicago's fourth loss in a row and the fifth consecutive game in which the Bulls have scored less than 100 points.

Boston: The Celtics suffered a dramatic at Phoenix (steal and three-pointer at buzzer by Ulis for the Suns) and an ugly 119-99 setback in Denver on Friday, just two nights after a 99-86 victory at Western Conference-leading Golden State. However, Boston will play 11 of its final 16 games at home and 12 of the last 16 against teams that entered the weekend with sub-.500 records. Thomas (29.3 & 6.1 APG) has led Boston all season but head coach Brad Stevens just indicated that Avery Bradley (16.9 & 6.3), who has been on a minutes restriction in the wake of a recent Achilles injury, is just about all the way back. The defensive stalwart has played a total of 59 minutes over the last two games. Bradley getting back to full strength is no small deal. Also, rookie forward Jaylen Brown (6.5 PPG) had 14 points off the bench in Denver and is averaging 11.6 - nearly twice his season average - while shooting 55.7 percent since returning from a hip injury in February.

The pick: The Bulls may rank 10th in the East but they are only two games out of sixth-place. Chicago's still very much alive but the team is 3-5 since moving Gibson (the team's starting power forward) and McDermott (the team's best three-point shooter). FYI...Chicago ranks last in the NBA in made three-pointers per game at 6.8. Chicago's woes continue here in Boston. Make the Celtics a 10* play.

The set-up: The Ivy League finally "joined in" with the rest of college basketball and held a postseason tourney in 2017, for the first time in its history. So far so good, in terms of excitement. Princeton rolled through the regular season 14-0 but needed OT to get past a sub-.500 Penn team on Saturday (note: Penn was playing on its homecourt) and then defending champion Yale edged Harvard (Ivy champs in four straight seasons in 2012, '13, '14 & '15), 73-71. The sets up this "high noon" showdown between Princeton, on an 18-game winning streak, and Yale, the defending champs.

Yale: The Bulldogs had a memorable 2015-16 season, winning the Ivy League at 13-1, breaking the school's 54-year NCAA tourney drought. Yale then upset Baylor in the first round of the NCAA tourney for the school's first-ever NCAA win. Yale finished with 23 wins, the most since the 1907-07 season. Three starters were lost off last year's team, including forward Brandon Sherrord. He set an NCAA single-season record by making 30 consecutive FG attempts and earned All-Ivy honors (also lost were the team's top-two scorers, Mason and Sears) . There was no 13-1 league mark for Yale this year but the Bulldogs did got 10-4 and now after the two-point win over Harvard, sit at 18-10 overall and will enter this title game on a four-game winning streak. Yale owns exellent balance with Oni (13.2 & 6.4), Dallier (9.5 & 4.1 APG) and Phils (7.0) starting in the backcourt, while the 6-9 Downey (11.8 & 6.9) and the 6-7 Reynolds (9.7 & 5.0) start up front. Key reserves are guard Copeland, the team's second-leading scorer at 12.9 PPG, and the 6-9 Bruner (8.3 & 5.7). Oni had 18 & 6 and Downey 13 & 10 against Harvard, while off tehebench, Copeland had 12 points and Bruner 11 & 8.

The pick: I had Penn against Princeton on Saturday and got 'robbed' ATS, as Princeton covered in OT. This is Princeton's best team in a long time but as I noted Saturday, the last thing the Tigers needed was a conference tourney in 2017. It means that instead of having already secured an invite to the Big Dance, Princeton was forced to win two more games to get that bid. Princeton "got lucky" on Saturday and I don't believe a win will come any easier here on Sunday. Yale's won four straight and has reached 90 points in two of those games. The Bulldogs have depth and talent plus a check of the the team's ATS record book reveals Yale is 8-1 ATS in its last nine neutral-site games. Make Yale a 10* play.

The set-up: The 23-41 Philadelphia 76ers will be in LA to take on the 39-26 Clippers in an afternoon game at Staples Center. Injuries have again caught up with Philly (Simmons never got on the court this year and Embiid's season was limited to just 31 games) and the Sixers will again be lottery-bound. As for the Clippers, like Forrest Gump's favorite box of chocolates, "you never know what you are going to get." They look like NBA title contenders one night and a lottery team the next.

Philadelphia: Embiid was the presumptive rookie of the year before a knee injury ended his season but Dario Saric is stepping up to make his own run at the award. He had 28 points and nine rebounds in Thursday's 114-108 OT loss in Portland, his 214th straight game in double figures.However, the starting backcourt of T.J. McConnell and Nik Stauskas combined to go 0-of-14 from the floor in the loss (hard to believe Philly took the game into OT!). The loss was the third straight and sixth in seven games for the 76ers.

LA Clippers: The Clippers are two games behind the Jazz in the race for the No. 4 spot in the West and have a showdown with Utah looming Monday in Salt Lake City. Both Griffin (21.2-8.5-5.1) and Paul (17.4-5.1-9.4) have missed time this season but both are healthy now, so LA has no excuse not to make a late push. Then again, Blake Griffin had 14 points and 12 rebounds on Thursday, giving him just his first double-double in six games this month. Paul, who recently returned from a thumb injury recently, broke out with 20 points to lead the reserves on Thursday but that's after averaging 7.3 points in the previous four contests.

The pick: As noted, you are never quite sure which Clipper team will show up. Yes, the Clippers are healthy, but inconsistency has plagued them, as they are 4-5 SU & ATS since the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the 76ers are 10-3 ATS their last 13 games. Philadelphia is an 8* play.

The set: The famed "Ancient 8" has finally joined the rest of the college basketball world and will be holding a conference tourney for the first time ever. Just the top four teams in this eight-team league have been invited and the three games will be contested at The Palestra in Philadelphia. That's good news for the Penn Quakers, as The Palestra is the school's homecourt.

Penn: The Quakers and Tigers have been the Ivy's premier teams over the years but Penn has struggled for almost a decade now. The school had just one winning season in six years under Jerome Allen and now under Steve Donahue, the Quakers are 24-31 (11-17 Ivy) in his first two seasons. However, a hopeful note is that Penn ended the season winning six of eight to earn the fourth and final spot in this tourney at 6-8 in league play. This young team looks like it has jelled. The 6-8 Brodeur is a freshman and comes in averaging 13.9 & 6.8. Howard is a 6-4 sophomore guard averaging 12.4 & 6.8 plus 6-5 freshman guard Betley (11.5 & 4.2) has taken over down the stretch, averaging 17.7 PPG over Penn's last seven games.

Princeton: The Tigers have, like Penn, taken a backseat in the Ivy in recent years, with first Cornell, then Harvard, taking over as the loop's top dogs. However, Princeton's 22 wins last year were the school's most in five years and after a 4-6 start, the Tigers have gone on a 17-game winning streak (14-0 in Ivy League play). Two senior small forwards are the 6-5 Cook (13.8) and the 6-4 Weisz (10.6-5.5-4.1) and that duo is joined by a pair of sophomore guards in Cannady (13.7) and Stephens (11.9 & 4.3).

The pick: This is Princeton's best team in a long time and the last thing the Tigers needed was a conference tourney, meaning instead of having already secured an invite to the Big Dance, Princeton must now win two more games, extending the team's winning streak to 19! More bad news comes in that the Tigers draw long time rival Penn, which get to play on its homecourt. As noted, Penn is playing it best basketball of the year and I'm taking the points. Make Penn an 8* play.

The set-up: The 31-27-8 Philadelphia Flyers have lost nine of 14 (5-7-2) to fall five points behind the New York Islanders for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the 35-26-6 Boston Bruins now occupy third place in the Atlantic Division (76 points) on the heels of a 9-3-0 surge since Bruce Cassidy replaced the fired Claude Julien on Feb. 7 behind the bench. The two long-time rivals meet in an early Saturday afternoon game in Boston.

Philadelphia: The Flyers have been riding a roller coaster all season and Thursday's 4-2 loss in Toronto is just another nail in the team's coffin. A  5-7-2 record in their last 14 games is not the kind of second-half run that leads to the playoffs. They open play Saturday not only five points behind the Islanders for the second wild card but they would also have to climb over Toronto and Tampa Bay before reaching the Islanders.

Boston: The Bruins' LW Brad Marchand has 25 points (15 goals, 10 assists) in his last 17 games and is being mentioned among the NHL's elite players these (he has team-leading totals of 32 goals and 70 points). The team's top two centers, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, have been on fire under Cassidy, and LW David Pastrnak has a seven-game points streak (his 57 points are second to Marchand). Goalie Tuukka Rask has 31 wins in goal and the defense has started scoring under the team's new coach.

The pick: Still, Boston remains squarely on the playoff bubble for a team yearning to end a two-year run of failing to make the playoffs. Philadelphia's Steve Mason was passed over for Thursday's game in Toronto but starts in goal on Saturday against Boston. He is 6-2-3 with a .226 GAA and .933 save percentage against Boston in his career. Take the 1 1/2 goals and make the Flyers an 8* play.

The set-up: The America East championship is up for grabs when the Albany Great Danes play at the Vermont Catamounts in an early Saturday tip-off (11:00 ET).

Albany: The Greart Danes were 10-6 in league play and all season, have been led by guards Nichols (18.1-3.4-3.2) and Cremo (16.2-5.3-3.8). Albany won at home in this tourney in a blowout of Hatford (Nichols had 40 points!) and then won 63-56 at Stony Brook to advance to the title game and get a third shot this season vs. Vermont.

Vermont: The Catamounts have been the class of the league, joining Princeton (Ivy League), as the only schools to go unbeaten in conference play during the regular season. Vermont uses nine players with three reaching double digits, two forwards and a guard. The 6-6 Lamb (12.6 & 5.30 is the leading scorer with the 6-8 Henson (11.1 & 5.4) just behind him. PG Bell-Haynes (11.2 & 3.8 APG) runs an offense averaging 74.1 PPG and the team connects on 50.0 percent of its shots (6th).

The pick: Vermont's 16-0 league record has allowed them to play all games in this tourney at home and in its first two games, the Catamounts have held each opponent to 41 points, while scoring 86 and 74, themselves. Vermont is 15-1 on its homecourt this season, losig only back on Dec. 10 to Northeastern, when the Huskies shot 52.1% and the Catamounts just 40.4%! However, don't expect a blowout here. Vermont (like Princeton) is in the unenviable position of knowing a loss here leaves them out of the Big Dance, despite dominating the league all season. Albany has the two best scorers in the game in Nichols and Cremo plus is a solid defensive team, as well (66.2 PPG allowed ranks 46th). Note that Albany is 12-4 ATS in their last 16 road games. Take the points and make Albany an 8* play.