The pick: Colorado has scored more than three goals just once in its last 18 games and averages 1.96 GPG on the season, easily the worst mark in the league. The Under is 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.

Oklahoma City: Westbrook (31.9-10.6-10.4) continues to make individual history but says he's more interested in guiding his team to wins and locking up the best possible seed in the Western Conference playoffs. "We have to win, that's my thoughts," Westbrook responded when asked about the upcoming personal milestones. OKC may be looking up in the standings but the Thunder may also have to check the rear-view mirror. Oklahoma City is just 1 1/2 games ahead of the seventh-place Grizzlies and will begin a four-game road trip at Memphis on Wednesday, before closing out the regular season at home against Denver on Apr. 12.

The pick: Both teams will be playing hard tonight and although we can expect a "playoff atmosphere" in this one, I say the Over is an 8* play.

The pitching matchup: Carlos Carrasco (11-8 & 3.32 ERA in 2016)  will face Martin Perez (10-11 & 4.39 ERA) in Wednesday's middle game of this three-game series. Carrasco missed the 2016 postseason when he was hit by a line drive that broke his right hand on Sept. 17 and while he was bothered by elbow swelling in spring training, he's set to go  here. He's been a solid pitcher for the Indians these last two seasons with 55 starts (Cleveland is 33-22) and 366 strikeouts in 330 innings. Perez made a career-high 33 starts last year for Texas and reached double digits in wins for the second time in his career. He was a different pitcher at home last year (8-3, 3.24 ERA) than on the road (2-8, 5.78) and that's the good news here for the Rangers.

The pick: Then again, Perez will face a formidable Cleveland lineup and he had just 103 strikeouts in almost 200 innings (198 2/3), while allowing 76 walks (not a good ratio). He's only had two starts in his career against Cleveland but they've been disastrous, as he's posted a 12.40 ERA while going 0-1 (Texas is 0-2). Carrasco doesn't have a good history against Texas either, with a 1-3 record and 5.52 ERA in five starts (team is 1-4), but he's the superior pitcher. Perez turns 26 today but no birthday gift awaits. Make Cleveland a

St. Louis, Yes, the Blues have clinched a playoff spot, but that has not altered the motivation for the St. Louis Blues for the final week of the regular season. “We need to crunch down and play the way we want to play" Blues center Alexander Steen told reporters after scoring the tie-breaking goal in the second period on Sunday. St. Louis has at least one point in 14 of its past 15 games (12-1-2) and plays its final four games against teams out of or nearly eliminated from playoff contention. Goaltender Jake Allen, who was at one point this season for inconsistent play, made 35 saves Sunday and is 9-1-2 in his past 12 outings.

The pick: The Jets may be out of the playoffs but they are 7-2 their last nine (including four straight wins), while the Blues are red-hot at 12-1-2 their last 15. Both goaltenders o are on top of their games and the Under is 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.

The set-up: The Oakland A's host the LA Angels on Monday, as the two AL West foes open the season with a four-game series. The A's made three consecutive playoff appearances (2012-14) but have lost 94 and 93 games each of the last two years, giving them back-to-back last-place finishes in the division. The Angels won the division in 2014 (98 wins was a MLB-high!) but were just 74-88 last year, missing out on the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. That was preceded by making the postseason in six of eight seasons, beginning back in 2002 when the team won the World Series.

The pitching matchup: Ricky Nolasco (2016: 8-14, 4.42 ERA in 2016 with Minnesota and LA) will face Oakland's Kendall Graveman, who is coming off a 10-11 (4.11 ERA) season. Nolasco will be making the fourth Opening Day start of his career, in his first full season with the Angels. He went 4-6 with a 3.21 ERA and one shutout in 11 starts after being acquired from Minnesota but went 3-0 while allowing just one unearned run over his last three outings of 2016, including an eight-inning effort against Oakland. Nolasco is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA and a shutout in seven career starts versus the Athletics (teams are 4-3). Graveman gets the nod for his first career start on Opening Day, after working a team-high 186 innings last season. He was winless in his final six starts of 2016 (0-3 with the team going 1-5) but allowed three runs or fewer four times in that span. Graveman has pitched well in six career starts against the Angels, posting a 1-1 record and 3.38 ERA with one complete game (team is 3-3).

The pick: When one thinks "Opening Day starters," the names of Nolasco and Graveman don't readily come to mind. However, both pitched well down the stretch last season and I'm making the Under a 10* play.

The set-up: The 38-24-15 Toronto Maple Leafs won 5-4 at Detroit on Saturday and hold down third place in the Atlantic Division, as they own the tiebreaker over Ottawa, which occupies the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and a three-point lead over Tampa Bay with one game in hand. The Maple Leafs look to be surging toward what would be only their second playoff appearance in 12 seasons, having gone 7-1-1 in their last nine games. They play the 32-24-12 Buffalo Sabres tonight on the road, who with just 76 points, have already been eliminated from the postseason.

Toronto: The Maple Leafs are right in the thick of playoff contention and five Toronto players have at least 57 points on the season. Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen (32-15-14, 2.66 GAA and .919 save percentage) is 5-0-1 in his last six decisions and has allowed a total of just 13 goals in his last seven games. He is expected to start on Monday.

Buffalo: The Sabres have lost two in a row, after falling behind early and surrendering two third-period goals in their 4-2 Sunday home loss to the Islanders. "We had chances, some good luck, some pressure, but we've got to capitalize a little bit more," Sabres captain Brian Gionta said after the game. However, it's been another sub-par season for Buffalo, which has now missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season.

The pick: The teams have split four meetings this season and note that the Sabres handed Toronto its only regulation defeat in its last nine contests, a 5-2 loss on March 25 in Buffalo. McElhinney started in goal that game, not Andersen. That should be motivation enough for the Leafs here. Make Toronto a 10* play.

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

The set-up: The Red Sox won the AL East last season (93 wins) but went meekly in the ALDS, losing three straight to the Indians. They now open the 2017 season at home vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates, without David Ortiz on the roster for the first time since 2002. Running the clubhouse now will be veteran second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Boston has a handful of emerging outfield stars plus a solid but banged-up rotation that features newcomer Chris Sale. The Pirates saws their three-year wild card steak end last season, going just 78-83. They will need one-time MVP Andrew McCutchen to return to form as he makes the move from center to right field following a down year.

The pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole (2016: 7-10, 3.88 ERA) will be on the mound for the Pirates, up against Boston's Rick Porcello, who won 2016's CY Young award in the AL by going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA. Porcello led the league in wins and had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.91) among AL hurlers. Boston was 25-8 in all of his regular season starts, earning a profit of $1470 (3rd-best in MLB). He was dominant at Fenway Park, going 13-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 16 home starts (team was 15-1). He posted an ERA below 3.00 in July, August and September while becoming the 22nd pitcher in team history to record 22 wins. He's faced the Pirates three times, going 2-0 with an 0.39 ERA (teams are 2-1). Current Pirates are hitting a combined .130 against him. Cole followed up a 19-win season in 2015 with an injury-plagued 2016 that saw his ERA soar by more than a run as he was limited to 21 starts. He was only 2-6 with a 5.48 ERA in nine starts after the All-Star break and pitched just 10 innings during Grapefruit League action. He's had just one start vs. Boston (2014), limiting the Red Sox to two runs in seven innings (1-0, 2.57 ERA).

The pick: This is the Pirates' first trip to Fenway since June 2005. Before that, Pittsburgh had not played in Boston since the inaugural World Series in 1903 (wow!). Stepping in front of Porcello here at Fenway makes little sense, off last year's performance. Make Boston an 8* play.

The set-up: The NY Mets have been to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons and return basically the same roster as 2016. When healthy, New York's starting rotation is among MLB's very best. However, that rotation has already had its problem this spring, as Stephen Matz begins the season on the DL (elbow) and Matt Harvey has not reached the same velocity since having thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last summer. In contrast to the Mets' win season, the Braves won only 68 games last season. That said, Atlanta did win 20 of its final 30 contests, as the addition of left fielder Kemp and shortstop prospect Swanson in August sparked the Braves' offense. Th issue heading into the 2017 season opener is a questionable starting rotation that felt as if adding R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon, a pair of 40-plus-year-old starters, to the back end of the rotation was a smart move. We'll see?

The pitching matchup: How New York's overall rotation will pan out is still a question mark but at the top, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob DeGrom give the Mets two Cy Young candidates. Syndergaard followed a strong rookie campaign with an All-Star appearance in 2016, finishing third in the NL in ERA, (2.60), fourth in strikeouts (218) and seventh in WAR (5.3). The 24-year-old dominated right-handers, holding them to a .228 average and a .581 OPS while giving up only five homers in 416 plate appearances. Syndergaard made one start against the Braves last season, giving up five runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss Sept. 19. He's made just three career starst against them, going 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA (team is 1-2). Atlanta's Julio Teheran was 7-10 with a 3.21 ERA in 2016. He pitched way better than his record, as he received only 3.37 runs per start in 2016 , the third-lowest average in the majors. He's made 30-plus starts each of the past four seasons with a 3.21 or lower ERA in three of those campaigns. Teheran, who made the All-Star team and finished 10th in the NL in WAR for pitchers (4.8) last season, went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in four starts against the Mets in 2016 and overall, is 7-3 with a 2.02 ERA in 16 career starts but the team is just 8-6.

The pick: As noted earlier, the Braves played well late in teheseason but so did the Mets, who closed on a 27-13 kick to earn home field in the wild-card game game (didn't help, though against Bumgarner). Fredi Gonzalez of Atlanta was fired following a 9-28 start but Atlanta went 59-65 under interim skipper Brian Snitker, including 12-2 in the final 14 games. Snitker now has the full-time job and he's been in the Braves organization in many different roles since becoming a minor league player in 1977.

While Syndergaard has had little success against the Barves, it's over a small sample size (three starts). He's a 'monster' and Teheran is a hard luck pitcher who rarerly get support (see above). He won't get much here in his 2017 opener. Make the Mets an 8* play.

The set-up: Here's something no one has heard in over 100 years! The Cubs open the new season has defending champs! The curse is finally over but there is no rest for the weary, as the Cubs open their 2017 season with a three-game series in St. Louis against the Cardinals. This rivalry ranks among the most bitter in baseball and it's only intensified lately, with the Cubs now owning 'top dog' status in the NL Central, a division the Cards once dominated. Adding fuel to the fire was Dexter Fowler signing a five-year deal with St. Louis over the winter and leaving Chicago, just like Jason Heyward jilted the Cardinals to sign with Chicago prior to the 2016 season.

The pitching matchup: Jon Lester will make his second Opening Day start for the Cubs. He finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting last year (19-5, 2.44 ERA) and was the MVP of the NLCS. He is 7-5 with a 1.87 ERA in 12 career starts against St. Louis (teams are 7-5). He dominated the Cards last season, going 2-0 with an 0.87 ERA in three starts (Cubs were 3-0). Carlos Martinez opposes the veteran Lester and at 25-years-old, will be the youngest Opening Day starter for St. Louis since Joe Magrane in 1989. Martinez posted 20 quality starts (out of 31) and won a career-best 16 games in 2016 (16-9, 3.04 ERA),.

The pick: The Cards are coming off their first postseason miss since 2010 and would love to spoil the Cubs' 2017 debut but Martinez hasn't had much success against the Cubs, going 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 19 games against them, including nine as a starter (team is 5-4 but his ERA is 5.08). Martinez may have been 16-9 last season but t Che were just 17-14 in his starts and actually lost money (minus-$130). As for Lester, the Cubs went 24-8 (plus-$1047) in his 32 starts, including going 12-2 in his 14 starts after the All Star break. Make Chicago an 8* Play

The set-up: The 28-48 Philadelphia 76ers are headed for another lottery pick, as this team's injury woes have prevented them from having a chance at making a run at the one of the East's final playoff spots. Maybe next year? Philly will be in Toronto on Sunday, facing the 46-30 Raptors who have won even of eight. The loss of PG Lowry (22.8-4.7-6.9) has not slowed Toronto and like he has all season, DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with a 40-point effort in Friday's 111-100 over the Pacers. The Raptors are tied with the Wizards for the East's third-best record and both teams has six game remaining.

Philadelphia: The 76ers have lost five of seven, after getting trounced 122-105 at Cleveland on Friday. The team dressed only nine players and lost despite 19 points apiece from Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Richaun Holmes (who?). Simmons never played a game this season and Embiid's season was limited to just 31 games. Then in late-March, the team announced that Jahlil Okafor (knee soreness) and Robert Covington (knee) also will miss the remainder of the year. Dario Saric was making his own run at ROY but only shot 3-of-12 from the floor on Friday and has now failed to reach 30 percent shooting in three of his last four outings.

Toronto: DeRozan has tied the franchise record with 30 games of at least 30 points this season and his Friday effort gave him 40-plus points for teh seventh time this year. He's had performances of  36, 40, 40 and 42 points in his last six games and his career-high scoring average now sits at 27.4 on the season. Center Jonas Valanciunas has notched 28 double-doubles on the season (12.0 & 9.6), the latest coming in Friday's win when he had 16 points and 17 rebounds. He is averaging 15.7 points and 13.7 rebounds over the last three outings. Serge Ibaka (acquired before the trade deadline from Orlando) also had a double-double against the Pacers (15 & 12) and has averaged 14.7 & 6.7 in his 18 games with the Raptors.

The pick: The 76ers have lost eight straight visits to Toronto and look like a M*A*S*H unit but here's the bottom line. Philadelphia is 18-7 ATS over its last 25 games. Make Philly an 8* play.

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 San Francisco Giants are opening the season on the road for the eighth consecutive year and the 26th time in the last 33 seasons. They will open 2017 at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are coming off a 69-83 year in which they finished 18 games back of the Giants and 22 back of the LA Dodgers, who won the NL West. It marked Arizona's third straight sub-.500 year and the fifth straight missed postseason. In stark contrast, the Giants own just one losing season in their last eight (2013) and have been in the postseason in four of those years, winning World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014. The Giants had 32 blown saves last season and signed free agent closer Mark Melancon in hopes of settling a bullpen that was last seen imploding in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs. Arizona changes included a front-office shakeup with new manager Torey Lovullo taking control of the team.

The pitching matchup: Bumgarner has proved himself over and over in the postseason, capped by his memorable 2014 World Series against the Royals. However, he is also just one of only two pitchers to make at least 30 starts and pitch 200 innings in each of the past six regular seasons. He set career highs in innings (226 2/3) and strikeouts (251) last season. Bumgarner is 9-7 with a 2.53 ERA in 26 appearances vs. Arizona, including 25 starts (Giants are 15-10). Zach Greinke signed a six-year, $206 million contract with Arizona prior to last season but oblique and shoulder injuries.limited him to 26 starts, going 13-7 with a 4.37 ERA (team was 16-10in his starts). Greinke's had excellent success vs. the Giants in his career, posting a 9-2 (2.49) record with his teams going 11-3.

The pick: Bumgarner had a solid spring (2.52 ERA in seven starts) and Greinke avoided any health issues this spring. This is the opener of a four-game series in Chase Field. It's important for Arizona to get off to a solid start for its new manager but that won't be easy. The Diamondbacks' first two weeks include seven games against the Giants, four versus the Los Angeles Dodgers and three against defending American League champion Cleveland. Arizona was just 6-13 against the Giants in 2016, losing nine of its 10 home games against San Francisco. Drawing Bumgarner in the season openers doesn't help. He is 6-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts) at Chase Field and he is making his fourth consecutive Opening Day start, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his previous three. Make San Francisco a 10* play!

The set-up: The St. 42-28-7 St. Louis Blues lost 2-1 in a shootout Friday at Colorado but with the one point, clinched a playoff spot with 91 points. Speaking of 91 points, the 40-27-11 Nashville Predators also have 91 points after Saturday's 3-0 home win over the Wild. These two Central Division rivals square off this afternoon in St. Louis with the Blues sitting in third-place due to owning the tiebreaker and the Predators needing one point to clinch a postseason berth.

Nashville: The Predators snapped a two-game slide with Saturday's win, giving the team an 8-3-0 record in its last 11. The Predators are closing in on a third straight playoff appearance and have won three of the first four meetings in what will be a five-game season series with the Blues. Pekka Rinne (31-18-8, 2.44 GAA & .917 save percentage) recorded his third shutout of the season against the Wild and is 5-2-0 with a .944 save percentage in his last seven games. He's expected to be in net again on Sunday, in what may be the biggest game of the season.
"Probably the biggest game of the year so far, and it's going to be fun," Predators forward Filip Forsberg told NHL.com about Sunday's game. "It's going to be really fun to go in there and try to climb the standings as high as we can." Forsberg scored his team-leading 31st goal on Saturday.

St. Louis: The Blues are banged up on the blue line with Carl Gunnarsson missing the last two games (lower body) and Robert Bortuzzo leaving Friday's contest with an upper-body injury, forcing the team to recall Petteri Lindbohm from Chicago of the American Hockey League under emergency conditions. However, while goalie Jake Allen (30-19-5, 2.39 GAA and .915 save percentage) suffered his second loss in his last three games on Friday (1-0-2), he finished March with a .953 save percentage, the best non-April month of his career.

The pick: The Blues haven't been perfect recently but no one is holding that against them, as the team has surged into the postseason with an 11-1-2 record in their last 14 games. This is a YUGE game and both goalies come in playing great. Throw in the fact that the Blues are 1-for-15 on the power play in their last six contests while the Predators are 0-for-13 in their last four, and the Under is a 10* 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 setup: Detroit's record streak of consecutive playoff appearances is officially over as they are the lone Atlantic team to be out of contention in the East. Toronto is looking to make the playoffs for the first time in years. They are currently fourth in the Atlantic and hold the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto: The Maple Leafs have won two straight. They are also 3-0 vs. the Red Wings this year. This is a strong offensive team that ranks 5th in the league in goals per game. They've been playing good hockey for awhile now going 9-2-1 the last 12 games. But it's been goaltending, not the offense, carrying them. They've allowed two goals or less in 10 of those past 12 games.

Detroit: The Red Wings have lost two straight and given up nine goals in the process. However, goalie Jimmy Howard should still give them hope. He has a .932 save percentage for the year. Most importantly, the Under is 13-3 this year when Howard starts.

The pick: With the Under being so profitable when Howard is in goal, I've gotta lean that way. Especially considering how few goals the Leafs have allowed lately. Make the Under is a 10* play

The setup: The Devils have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. While the Flyers would need to jump several teams, they are still alive with 82 points. They've won three in a row, scoring six times twice. New Jersey has lost five in a row.

New Jersey: The last place team in the Metropolitan Division has not only lost five straight, but also seven of its past eight. They are 28th in the league in scoring. Last night saw them lose 2-1 to the Islanders. That's emblamatic of the kind of season they have had as they are 28th in the league in scoring. Corey Schneider is expected to start in goal here as Keith Kincaid played last night. Schneider has had somewhat of a down year. The Devils have a losing record in the second game of a back to back this year.

Philadelphia: Their last game was also against the Islanders, but it went a lot better (6-3 win). Somewhat surprisingly, they have struggled with the Devils this year, going 0-3 against their division rival. The last meeting was a 6-2 loss in New Jersey. Goalie Steve Mason has NEVER beaten the Devils. That being said, there is no denying which team is in better form here.

The Pick: Though the Flyers haven't beaten the Devils this season, it's tough not to like them in this spot. They have their season to play for while New Jersey is already turning to youngsters as their focus is now beyond 2017. Make Philly an 8* play

The set-up: Gonzaga has often been viewed as "the little school that could" over the last two decades but in the school's first-ever Final 4 game, the 36-1 Bulldogs are the West's No. 1 seed and face the lone true underdog remaining in the field, the 26-10 and 7th-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks. Gonzaga is 1-2-1 ATS in reaching the Final 4 while South Carolina is a perfect 4-0 ATS. The Gamecocks opened by routing Marquette 93-73 as a one-point favorite and then have knocked off the West's No. 2 (Duke), No. 3 (Baylor) and No. 4 seeds (Florida), each time as an underdog.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks have thrived behind high-scoring senior guard Sindarius Thornwell (25.6 PPG and 7.5 RPG in four NCAA wins) and some hellacious wear-you-down defense. Thornwell (21.6 & 7.2 on the season) may have been the SEC player-of-the-year but he was widely unknown prior to this year's Big Dance. That's no longer the case and he's aided by a pair of workman-like guards in Dozier (13.8 & 4.7) and Notice (10.2). South Carolina's frontcourt is suspect, although the 6-9 Silva (10.1 & 5.9) has been a stud in the team's four wins, averaging 13.0 & 7.8. However, the 6-10 Kotsar (5.9 & 4.8) hasn't added much. The key has been a defense which has held Duke to 41.5% shooting, Baylor to 30.4% and Florida to 41.7%. Fiery South Carolina head coach Frank Martin says, "Our inside play has gotten good again. It kind of disappeared on us there the last month of the season. But our inside guys have played well in the NCAA Tournament." That frontcourt will be tested by Gonzaga's big men.

Gonzaga: Williams-Goss (16.7-5.9-4.6) gets sold help on the perimeter from Mathews (12.2 & 5.8) and Perkins (8.2). Then there is Gonzaga's big men, starters like the 7-foot, 300-pound Przemek Karnowski (12.2 & 5.8) and the 6-9 Williams (10.3 & 6.6), who averaged 16.0 & 7.0 in Sweet 16 and Elite 8 wins. Throw in 7-0 freshman Collins (9.9 & 5.7) coming off the bench and it's easy to see the challenge facing South Carolina. Gonzaga averages 83.2 PPG (14th) on 50.9% shooting (2nd) and sometimes the team's defense is overlooked. However, Gonzaga enters allowing 60.9 PPG (5th) on 36.4% shooting (1st). Gonzaga ranks No. 1 overall in defensive efficiency!

The pick: South Carolina has forced an average of 17 turnovers in four NCAA Tournament games and has outscored every opponent in the second half by an average of 13he points. The Gamecocks defense will put a lot of pressure on Williams-Goss but is there any reason to believe that he's not up to the challenge? Gonzaga shoots 50.9% from the floor with great balance on offense (inside and out) plus holds opponents to 36.4 percent. That's quite a 'daily double.' West Va. averaged 81.5 PPG this season but was held to 59 by Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 and Xavier averaged 74.6 PPG on the year but was held to 58 in the Elite 8 game. South Carolina will struggle to score but its defense will definitely "show up" Gonzaga gets its toughest test to-date and "the Zags" just may be tight. Make the Under a 10* 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 St. Louis Blues are riding an 11-1-1 hot streak as they visit the Pepsi Center and take on the sad-sack 20-53-3 Colorado Avalanche. The Blues' 42-28-6 record gives them 90 points and a St. Louis win (in regulation) would clinch at least the second wild-card position in the conference. The Avalanche come in having dropped seven in a row and nine of 10 and their 43 points on the season leaves them 20 points shy of Arizona, the second-worst team in the league.

St. Louis: The Blues currently lead the Predators by one point for third place in the Central Division but with a weak finish, could wind up as one of the wild cards. That said, there is no reason to expect a weak finish, as the team is on an11-1-1 tear, allowing a total of just 19 goals in that span. The Blues are now 18-7-1 since Mike Yeo replaced Ken Hitchcock behind the bench back on Feb. 1.

Colorado: The Avalanche have long been eliminated from the postseason and are in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, all in regulation. A quirk in the schedule had the Blues and Avalanche playing only one time before March. Now, tonight's game between the two teams marks the third time they've met in the last 26 days. St. Louis beat Colorado 5-1 at home back on Nov. 6 and so far this month has won 3-0 at the Pepsi Center on March 5 and 4-2 4-2 in St. Louis on March 21

The pick: It is hard to imagine the red-hot Blues losing their six remaining games in regulation, so the only question left is whether they will be a wild-card team or finish in the top three of the division and avoid the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the West. The Blues have allowed just 19 goals during their recent 13-game stretch (1.46 per) and visit the Avalanche, who are the NHL's lowest scoring team (1.97 GPG).  Is there any reason to think that Colorado, just 3-for-56 on the power play over its past 22 games, will break out here vs. the Blues? Meanwhile, the Blues average a modest 2.61 GPG on the road, so make the Under a 10* play in this one.

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: The Memphis Grizzlies 'limped' home after an 0-4 road trip in which the team had averaged only 89 points. However, they exploded for 72 points in the first half alone while breezing to a 110-97 win over the Indiana Pacers at home on Wednesday. That said, the team's 0-4 road trip likely doomed the 41-34 Grizzlies to the West's No. 7 spot in the West (currently trail No. 6 OKC by three games in the loss column with just seven remaining). The 31-42 Dallas Mavericks visit Memphis tonight and after making a run at the final playoff spot in the West, have all but been officially eliminated with three straight losses and seven in their last 10 games.

Dallas: It's generous to say that Dallas playoff hopes are dwindling, as the Mavs will play the next four and six of their final eight games on the road (Dallas is 9-25 SU away from home this season!). Dallas has started turning its attention to next season and is building a strong core around Harrison Barnes, Seth Curry, Nerlens Noel and Yogi Ferrell. Noel is providing a defensive presence next to future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki in the frontcourt while Curry and Barnes emerged this season as go-to scorers. Ferrell, who signed a two-year contract after a strong start with the team in February, has 14-of-22s proven to be a more than capable PG.

Memphis: PG Conley led the charge in Wednesday's win, scoring 36 points on 13-of-21 shooting, including 7-of-12 from three-point range, while adding six assists and four steals. He signed that huge contract in the off-season and has delivered a "career year" (20.4 & 6.3 APG). While PF Randolph now comes off the bench he and center Marc Gasol still give the Grizzlies a strong one-two inside duo. Gasol averages 19.9-6.3-4.6 and Randolph 14.0 & 8.1.

The pick: The Mavs have had trouble consistently scoring all season (98.0 PPG ranks 30th!) but that's why the over/under number is so low. Dallas has been a solid defensive team for most of the season but recently, the Mavs have allowed 109.6 PPG over their last five road games. Make the Over a 10* 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 21-53 LA Lakers have lost 16 of their last 18 but the 22-53 Suns seem determined to challenge them for the West's worst record (second-worst in the NBA next to the Nets). The Lakers are in Minnesota tonight to take on the hugely disappointing 29-44 Minnesota T-wolves, who just ended a six-game slide with a 115-114 win Tuesday at Indiana.

LA Lakers: Los Angeles is wrapping up its fourth 50-loss season in a row and needs to win at least two more games to avoid its third straight 60-loss season. The Lakers have been more concerned with evaluating their young players down the stretch than with winning. In fact, LA needs as may ping pong balls as possible, because they only keep their 2017 No. 1 draft pick if it's one of the top-three. Rookie forward Brandon Ingram (9.0 & 4.1)is dealing with patellar tendinitis and is expected to miss his third consecutive game. The injury is untimely as he had posted 10 straight double-digit scoring performances during which he was averaging 15.8 PPG! The Lakers are one of the NBA's worst defensive teams, allowing 112.1 PPG which ranks 28th, on 48.3 percent shooting, which ranks dead-last at 30th.

Minnesota: Center Karl-Anthony Towns had 37 points and 12 rebounds in Tuesday's 115-114 victory over the Indiana Pacers for his 14th double-double in the past 17 games. Towns has five 30-point outings this month and increased his scoring average to 24.6, a significant improvement over the 18.3 mark in last season's Rookie of the Year campaign. SF Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting against Indiana after averaging 25 points over the previous six encounters. Towns averages 24.6 & 12.1 and Wiggins 23.0 & 4.0 on the season. Throw in La Vine (18.9) and PG Ricky Rubio (10.5 & 8.9 APG), who has averaged of 18.7 points and 9.7 assists over the past three games, and one wonders just how this team is 15 games under-.500.

The pick: The Lakers had a recent history of beating the T-wolves in Minnesota but have lost two in a row at the Target Center, after winning 12 of their previous 14 visits. The Timberwolves are not yet mathematically eliminated form the playoffs but as we've seen, counting on them to play well on any given night can be dangerous to one's bankroll. Here, the Under is a 10* play.

The set-up: The 41-25-9 Ottawa Senators lost 3-2 in a shootout at Philadelphia on Tuesday and head to Minnesota having gone 2-3-3 in their last eight games. The 44-24-8 Minnesota Wild are also slumping, having dropped back-to-back outings in overtime. They have mow lost four in a row and gone 1-7-2 over their last 10. Both are in the playoffs but neither can be comfortable by the way they are ending the regular season.

Ottawa: The loss to the Flyers leaves the Senators four points behind the first-place Montreal Canadiens in the Atlantic Division race. Th loss was costly, because the Senators saw a pair of one-goal leads evaporate quickly.  Flyers center Jordan Weal not only scored the shootout winner but also tied the game late in the third when he pick-pocketed Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson behind the net and beat Anderson to the crease for an easy goal. "We had the game at 2-1," Senators head coach Guy Boucher said. "If there's no mistake, it stays 2-1 and everybody's happy. But we're not going to look at this as, 'Oh, our goalie made this gigantic mistake.' It happens. For all the saves he's made this year, and all the times he's made us win a game, he gave us a point tonight."

Minnesota: The Wild limited the explosive Washington Capitals to just 20 shots on goal and rallied with a pair of goals in the final 4:57 to force overtime. With goaltender Devan Dubnyk pulled for an extra attacker, Wild center Eric Staal scored his team-leading 27th goal to tie the game with 26.6 seconds left. However, the Caps won 5-4 in OT. Dubnyk has seen his bid for a Vezina Trophy tarnished by a disastrous 2-7-2 mark and 3.31 goals-against average since March 6. He's in in dire need of a breather and head coach Bruce Boudreau is hoping Alex Stalock, who has been recalled from Iowa of the American Hockey League, will provide one. Stalock will start Thursday's home game against the Senators, his first NHL game since Feb.16th.

The pick: The Wild are safely in second place in the Central Division, nine points behind the Chicago Blackhawks but seven ahead of the Nashville Predators. Stalock has a 2.31 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in 45 games for Iowa and is 24-19-7 with a 2.37 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and four shutouts in 62 career NHL games during parts of five seasons with the Sharks (2010-16). Make Minnesota, 24-12-2 at home, an 8* play.

The pick: Picking against Columbus is tough, as the Blue Jackets are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games against Metropolitan Division opponents. Bobrovsky will be in net and remember that .959 save percentage in his last 16. However, also remember that Columbus has scored only seven goals in its last four games. The under is a 10* play.

The set-up: The St. Louis Blues have won 10 of 12 overall (10-1-1) since a five-game skid and are now 17-7-1 since Mike Yeo replaced Ken Hitchcock behind the bench at the beginning of February. The Blues are 41-28-6 overall and with 88 points, are 11 points inside the playoff cut line with just seven games left in the team's regular season. Can you say shoo-in? The Blues visit Arizona tonight to face the 27-40-9 Coyotes, who are mired in last place in the Pacific Division with just 63 points (only the Avalanche have fewer points among all NHL teams!). Arizona returns home off closing its five-game road trip with three straight losses, managing just one goal in each loss.

St. Louis: The Blues are 10-2-1 in March with 38 goals scored (2.92 per) and just 21 allowed (1.62 per). Goalie Jake Allen has a .951 save percentage this month and the power play (20 percent) hasn't missed a beat following a trade-deadline deal that sent power-play catalyst Kevin Shattenkirk to the Washington Capitals. As already noted, the Blues have all but wrapped up a wild card spot but they also have a chance to leapfrog Nashville for third place in the Central Division (or Calgary for the first wild-card spot). The Blues are just one-point back of the Predators with a game in hand following Nashville's 4-1 loss to Boston on Tuesday.

Arizona: The youth movement is in full swing for Arizona. Seven rookies in the lineup in St. Louis on Monday (all under the age of 21), including the team's top prospect Clayton Keller, who was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2016 draft and fresh out of Boston University. The Coyotes lost 4-1 to the Blues and now get a quick rematch at home. Wednesday's game could be one of the final four home games of Coyotes captain Shane Doan's 20-season career in Arizona, and 21-season run with the Jets/Coyotes franchise. Doan hasn't decided yet if he'll retire, adding that he will make that decision after the season with his family.

The pick: Nothing's "simple" in any sport but not only are the Blues one of the NHL's hottest teams with plenty of motivation to improve their playoff positioning, it's also very difficult to ignore the fact that St. Louis owns a 14-game point streak (13-0-1) against Arizona and has not lost in regulation to the Coyotes in nearly five years, dating to April 6, 2012.As for the matchup in goal? Mike Smith is expected to start for Arizona, despite a 4-14 career record against the Blues with a 3.52 GAA and .885 save percentage. He'll go up against the red-hot Jake Allen (see above), who also owns a 7-0-0 lifetime against Arizona! Make St. Louis 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 45-29 Raptors beat the visiting Orlklando Magic 131-112 on Monday, givng them their second, six-game winning streak of the season. Toronto is now just one game back of the Washington Wizards for the East's No. 3 seed as it gets set to host the 33-41 Charlotte Hornets, whose playoff chances took a big hit with a 118-108 loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday, one which left them three games out of eighth place with only eight to play.

Toronto: The Raptors' recent surge has not only moved Toronto within a game of third place Washington but also to within 2 1/2 games of the slumping and second-place Cleveland Cavs. Toronto is eagerly awaiting the return of All-Star PG Kyle Lowry (22.8-4.7-6.9) from his wrist injury but Cory Joseph scored 15 points and handed out a career-high 13 assists versus Orlando and has averaged 12.5 points in 18 starts- all but one of which came after Lowry was sidelined. DeRozan (27.2 & 5.3 is averaging 34 points over his last four games and reserve shooting guard Norman Powell has averaged 13.1 PPG in 22 minutes during March.

The pick: The Raptors have won two of the three games between the teams this season, as the teams have split a pair in Charlotte while the Raptors won the one game in Toronto. The Raptors have four straight at home over Charlotte and the Hornets come in 4-16 SU over their last 20 road games. Charlotte has allowed 109.5 PPG over its last four, while the Raptors have averaged 108.5 PPG during their six-game winning streak. Make the Over 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 41-23-11 Anaheim Ducks have won four in a row and now find themselves atop the Pacific Division with 93 points. However, the division title is hardly secured, as San Jose and Edmonton have 91 points apiece and Calgary owns 90 points. Anaheim opens a four-game road trip in Vancouver against the 30-36-9 Canucks and a fifth straight win would clinch a playoff berth. Vancouver has lost eight of its last 10 overall (2-6-2) and has officially been eliminated from postseason contention.

Anaheim: The Ducks' recent surge (9-2-1 in March) has occurred with No. 1 goaltender John Gibson nursing a lower-body injury (he lost his only start in March). However, Jonathan Bernier has stepped up his game and posted a 9-1-1 mark in March with a 1.71 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. His lone regulation loss in that stretch came against Vancouver, although he deserved a better fate after turning aside 25 of 27 shots in a 2-1 setback on March 5. Despite Bernier's heroics in net, head coach Randy Carlyle told reporters on Monday that Gibson is expected to play once he joins the team on the road trip. However, Gibson is not ready to return just yet.

Vancouver: While the Ducks are immersed in the team's "Drive for Five" (looking to win the Pacific Division for a fifth straight season), the Canucks were eliminated from the playoffs last week and have not had much fun lately. Vancouver has won only two of its last 10 games and an offense which ranks 28th in goals scored (2.24 per), will have its hands full against the red-hot Bernier. Speaking of goaltenders, one wonders just how many more "meaningless" games the 36-year-old Ryan Miller, 36, will play after handling the bulk of the goaltending duties with regular backup Jacob Markstrom injured. Miller has kept the Canucks close in many games this season with a 2.77 GAA and .915 save percentage. However, the Canucks just can't put the net in goal often enough, resulting in his poor 18-24-6 record.

The pick: The Ducks have recorded at least a point in seven straight contests (6-0-1) to move two points ahead of San Jose and Edmonton and I can't see them stumbling here against the "going nowhere" Canucks. I will note that Vancouver has split its four encounters with Anaheim this season but that mean';s the Ducks should be even more focused. Make Anaheim 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 27-46 Philadelphia 76ers and the 16-57 Brooklyn Nets own the fifth-worst and absolute-worst records in the NBA, respectively. However, the 76ers have split their last eight games and the Nets are 7-8 over their last 15 contests. In head-to-head meetings this season, the 76ers have won the two earlier meetings with the Nets, including a 10-point triumph in their first visit to Barclays Center.

Philadelphia: Rookie Dario Saric (12.8 & 6.4) has made a late run at ROY honors but was just 3-for-15 from the floor in Sunday's 107-94 road loss against the Pacers, as his string of double-digit games was snapped at 22 when he finished with just nine. Since Embiid's last appearance, Philadelphia is 10-18. Philly continues to be plagued by injuries, as not only will the Sixers be without Embiid but Jahlil Okafor is unlikely to play Tuesday. Okafor (11.8 & 4.8) has missed three of the last four games with a knee injury but Richaun Holmes (8.8 & 5.1) has benefited, scooping up those starts and recording two of his three double-doubles on the season. Along with Holmes stepping up, the 6-9 Shawn Long has scored at least 13 points - nearly twice his season average - while shooting 63.3 percent in a three-game stretch.

Brooklyn: PG Jeremy Lin's return to health has been the primary catalyst in Brooklyn's improved results, as the team is now 9-16 with him in the lineup and 7-41 without. Lin scored 19 points and handed out eight assists against Atlanta while swingman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (8.4 & 5.6) notched his sixth double-double with 11 points and 13 boards.Center Brook Lopez (20.6) and has been the one constant all season. He's scored 23-plus points in seven of Brooklyn's last nine games (Nets are 5-4).

The pick: The season stats will say that the Nets allow more points than any team in the league at 113.3 PPG but the Nets are allowing a more modest 108.9 PPG game in March, which is also skewed by the 130 allowed at Portland on March 4, 122 against Oklahoma City on March 14 and 129 against Washington on Friday. Note that in the team's last three wins (Nets are favored here!), Brooklyn is allowing 95.3 points on 38.2 percent shooting, including 22.7 percent from three-point range. The Under is 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.

The set-up: The 41-25-8 Ottawa Senators have won just two of their last seven games (2-3-2) but with 90 points, are within three points of the Canadiens (93) for the top spot in the Atlantic Divisions. They open a four-game road trip tonight in Philadelphia to face the 35-32-8 Flyers, who find themselves with only faint postseason hopes. Philadelphia (78 points) is six points behind Boston for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with just seven games remaining on its schedule

Ottawa: The Senators can't be happy that three of the team's last five losses have come at the hands of the division-leading Canadiens but the team insists it is looking forward, not backwards. "We've played some good hockey lately and some not-so-good hockey, so consistency is still a huge part," forward Zack Smith told the Ottawa Citizen. "Eight games is still a lot of games and lot can happen in those eight games. If we can find some consistency, and some rhythm, which I know we will, then we'll be ready for the playoffs." With eight games remaining and one game in hand, the Ottawa Senators still have hopes of catching the Montreal Canadiens and winning the Atlantic Division title. In order to do so, the Senators will need to take advantage of a remaining schedule in which they face five teams currently out of the playoffs, starting with Tuesday's matchup against the Flyers.

Philadelphia: The Flyers open a three-game homestand with this contest. Talking about his team's playoff chances, defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere told Philly.com, "We just control what's in our control right now -- and that's winning games." The Flyers are trying to use the energy of Sunday night's 6-2 win in Pittsburgh to their advantage. However, since their 10-game win streak from Nov.27 to Dec. 14, the Flyers have gone just 16-22-5. How can anyone really think that this team is ready for prime time when only the Colorado Avalanche have a worse record in that time?

The pick: The Senators are a playoff-bound team which still has a reasonable chance to win the Atlantic Division, while the Flyers' season is all but over. Ottawa has been a solid road team all season (21-14-0) and while the Flyers are 21-11-4 at home on the season, they are just 5-4-1 on home ice since Feb. 4. Make the Senators a 10* play.