The 2015-16 NBA regular season is rapidly drawing to a close, which will soon culminate with Kobe Bryant’s final game, a potential new regular season wins record and the reveal of this year’s playoff picture. A lot can and will happen before the week is up, and it all starts on Monday night with a heavy 9-game slate leading the way.

Nine playoff teams take part in the 18-team schedule, with the biggest game quite arguably going down between the Mavericks and Jazz in Utah. For an expected result for that game and more, let’s jump into Monday night’s NBA preview:

Bucks @ Magic

Line: n/a Total: n/a

Milwaukee heads to the Amway Center up 2-1 in the season series, but there is very real evidence against a Bucks win in Orlando’s home finale. Not only are the Bucks a woeful 10-30 on the road this year, but they’ve also dropped 18 of their last 19 battles in Orlando. The Magic could be in rough shape with Victor Oladipo and Aaron Gordon potentially out, but if even one can suit up, the Magic could hold serve at home.

Pick: Magic 102, Bucks 99

Bulls @ Pelicans

Line: n/a Total: n/a

Chicago’s season has been a huge disappointment, as they play their final games with the Eastern Conference playoff picture figured out and them not being a part of it. They can still finish strong and that starts tonight with the Bulls taking down a banged up Pellies squad.

Pick: Bulls 107, Pelicans 89

Hawks @ Cavs

Line: Cavs -6 Total: 204.5

Cleveland can claim the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a win tonight. That may not be easy against the Hawks, who are still very much in a fight for the Southeast Division title. LeBron James and the other Cavs stars should avoid resting in this one, though, as a two-game losing streak has Toronto within striking distance with two games to go. Look for the Cavs to step up at home and take care of business, while also making the race for the Southeast Division even more interesting.

Pick: Cavs 104, Hawks 101

Hornets @ Celtics

Line: Celtics -7.5 Total: 208

Boston can still play their way all the way up to the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Hornets enter TD Garden with hopes of taking one step closer to the Southeast Division title. Ruling the Hornets out by this current line might be foolish, but the Celtics do tend to take car of business (27-12) on their home floor. Look for a tight game with a good amount of points, but Boston should defend their turf.

Pick: Celtics 106, Hornets 102

Wizards @ Nets

Line: Wizards -5.5 Total: 212

Washington has been eliminated from post-season contention, so anyone could be sat to close the year. John Wall is already shut down for the season and Brad Beal and Marcin Gortat could easily follow. That still might not give the Nets the edge they need, as they’ve been diminished in their starting five for weeks. Eight straight losses for the Nets probably doesn’t end tonight.

Pick: Wiz 103, Nets 96

Rockets @ Timberwolves

Line: Rockets -3.5 Total: 216.5

Houston is likely out of the playoffs if they lose tonight. Utah is in if they can merely win out, while the Mavs would get in with a Rockets loss. The Rockets can’t hang their hat on Utah losing out, of course, so taking down a young Timberwolves squad is crucial to their playoff hopes tonight. Houston has disappointed all year, but for the sake of NBA drama, they should win tonight and make their final regular season game extra meaningful.

Pick: Rockets 107, Wolves 101

Lakers @ Thunder

Line: Thunder -16 Total: 215

The Black Mamba gets his final crack at the Thunder, who probably will let their star players play considering it’s their last duel with Kobe Bryant. That doesn’t mean this is a close game, however, as OKC is a startling 31-9 at home and has owned the Lakers. Two of the three battles this year were decided by 35 or more points, so odds are OKC at least pulls away late.

Pick: Thunder 120, Lakers 101

Mavericks @ Jazz

Line: n/a Total: n/a

Dallas was a sinking ship just over a week ago, but a 6-4 run has them very much in the playoff mix. Tonight they take on the Jazz in Utah, where they can punch their playoff ticket officially with a big road win. That could be tough with Utah going 24-16 at home. The season series has been split thus far, too, with the last meeting going to the Jazz in OT. Fans could get another heated battle, but due to Chandler Parsons being out and J.J. Barea (groin) also potentially out, the mild edge goes to the Jazz.

Pick: Jazz 97, Mavs 94

Kings @ Suns

Line: Suns -6 Total: 218.5

The Kings shut down DeMarcus Cousins already, so they’re playing for nothing and will be short-handed when they visit the Suns tonight. This game still looks like a toss-up, as Phoenix doesn’t have a go-to star to rely on outside of young rookie Devin Booker. Phoenix is at home and have won two in a row, while they may also get up for the chance to even the season series.

Pick: Suns 108, Kings 105

The New York Jets already were looking at a 2016 NFL season without an answer at quarterback. Now they have to find one at left tackle. Per reports, long-time star left tackle D’Brickashaw Freguson has announced his retirement, leaving the league at the age of 32.

Jets LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson retiring at the age of 32 after 10 seasons. #nyj https://t.co/JqFnZBW6Xs

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) April 8, 2016

Still one of the better pass protecting tackles in the game, Ferguson opted to go out on his own terms, rather than agree to a pay cut pitched by the Jets. New York was looking for ways to save cash in order to bring back Fitzpatrick and make other moves, but inadvertently forced Ferguson to re-think his intentions for 2016 and beyond.

New York has claimed to know of Ferguson’s decision for some time, recently stating that they already have a backup plan and are trying to “execute it”.

Saving Cash

The one good thing here is Ferguson walking away frees up roughly $9 million in free money for 2016. That money could be used to convince Fitzpatrick to return and pick up where he left off – a career season that nearly resulted in a trip to the playoffs. The Jets could also use the extra cash to replace Ferguson and/or add another impact defender.

The team already boasts an excellent passing attack with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker and recently signed versatile running back Matt Forte. If they can fill in their glaring holes, they could be right back in the mix for the AFC East come next season.

New York’s Options

Fitzpatrick’s situation has to be placed on the back burner for the interim, as New York suddenly has a huge hole on an otherwise stable offensive line. Ferguson was starting to get up there in years, but he was still grading out as a high level pass protector and made Fitzpatrick’s left side a non-issue. Depending on who replaces him, it could quickly become a negative wrinkle in the offense.

New York hasn’t gone on record as to what their plan of attack is, but it could include making a splash in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Landing stud tackle Laremy Tunsil isn’t a possibility with the 20th pick, but Michigan State’s Jack Conklin is absolutely in play. Other tackle prospects Gang Green could consider include Ohio State’s Taylor Decker and Notre Dame’s Ronnie Staley, although Staley is another prospect who is a steep long shot to last all the way to the 20th pick in the draft.

Of course, perhaps a trade up to land someone like Stanley could be the plan the Jets plan to “execute”.

Free agency is also still in play. Will Beatty, Nate Chandler, Jake Long, Don Barclay and Jason Fox are a few interesting veterans that remain out on the open market that wouldn’t be terrible attempts at filling in the left tackle slot. None of them are sure-fire fixes, but in lieu of an obvious answer, they could potentially make sense.

2016 Odds

For a team that didn’t make the playoffs in 2015 and still doesn’t have their expected starting quarterback under contract, the loss of a top notch left tackle could be a pretty hefty blow. New York already enters 2016 with weak 50/1 odds to win it all this season, and even that could have been a reach with all things considered. The Jets are still a fringe playoff team if they can bring Fitzpatrick back, as they stood toe to toe with the New England Patriots and are arguably just as good – if not better – than the rest of the AFC East. That could give them a shot at the division title if everything breaks right and they’re able to both keep Fitzpatrick and also effectively replace the retiring Ferguson. If not, however, their odds to make any serious playoff noise may be worse than they already are.

The Golden State Warriors are the defending champions and have 69 wins this year, yet two losses at the Oracle Arena have them one more loss way from missing out on NBA history. Golden State’s chase for the NBA’s best single-season record seems to have consumed them to the point where they’re almost reeling.

The reality, of course, is this is still a team that has lost just nine times all season and typically because they play down to their level of competition in their losses. They can get sloppy with turnovers and if the shots aren’t falling, they can be in danger when their opponent’s are.

Tonight they’ll certainly be at risk of missing out on the record, as they welcome the San Antonio Spurs to town. It could be a mild relief if the Spurs did win, but the mere possibility puts two bets down tonight at the same time: can Golden State win the game, and can they also build momentum toward winning their final four games to be the first team in league history to notch 73 wins. The probability of them doing so is now down to 14%, and it very well could end with a loss tonight.

There’s more than just the Warriors and Spurs on the docket tonight, though, so let’s get to breaking down Thursday night’s five-game NBA slate:

Raptors @ Hawks

Line: Hawks -3.5 Total: 200

Cleveland lost last night, giving Toronto faint hopes of chasing down the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference if they can just win out. A loss tonight in Atlanta probably crushes their chances, and with the Hawks also fighting for the Southeast Division title, a Raptors win is no lock. The Hawks have been very strong on their home floor (25-14) and will want to avoid the season series sweep tonight. Look for them to cover in a big win.

Pick: Hawks 104, Raptors 97

Bulls @ Heat

Line: Heat -5.5 Total: 206

Chicago is losing serious life when it comes to their plight for a playoff bid, as they’ve lost six of their last 10 games and now get a very good Heat team that is still fighting for the Southeast Division title. Miami can’t afford to slip up, leads the season series 3-0 and is quite stout (26-13) on their home floor. It will take a huge effort from Jimmy Butler and co. to steal this one, but I do anticipate a close game and can see Chicago beating the spread.

Pick: Heat 102, Bulls 99

Suns @ Rockets

Line: Rockets -13.5 Total: 217

Houston’s playoff hopes took a huge hit with a loss in Dallas last night, but they have to turn right around and try to make up for the loss at home against the Suns. They’re certainly better than Phoenix and still are within striking distance of the Western Conference’s 8th seed, so caving here isn’t an option. They almost never seem to blow teams out, though, so don’t be shocked if Phoenix beats the spread.

Pick: Rockets 108, Suns 102

Timberwolves @ Kings

Line: Kings -4.5 Total: 223

DeMarcus Cousins will be on hand tonight and we’ve got a really fun matchup between two teams full of quality young talent. There is a ton of offense here and very little defense, so promoting the Over on the Total isn’t out of line. Promotion is one thing, and believing is another. That’s just too gaudy of a Total to chase, especially since these two teams have combined for even a 200+ Total once in three previous meetings. Sacramento is favored – as they should be – as they’re at home and should have all of their key stars healthy and active. Minnesota surprisingly leads the season series 3-0, but I doubt Boogie will like the idea of getting swept in his own house.

Pick: Kings 105, Wolves 101

Spurs @ Warriors

Line: Warriors -5 Total: 212.5

This is without a doubt the game of the night IF Greg Popovich doesn’t randomly sit his key players. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge are all expected to play, but could also all just as easily be held out. The Spurs probably can’t catch Golden State for the Western Conference’s #1 seed, and they might be more interested in playing harder when these two teams meet in San Antonio one more time this weekend. San Antonio has a great shot at taking that one and despite their recent struggles, the Warriors are still a brutally tough out at the Oracle Arena. Look for the bid for 73 wins to live another day.

Pick: Warriors 107, Spurs 104

The NBA doesn’t always work out as we hope it to, and that certainly can apply to NBA betting, as well. That much was made clear on Tuesday night, as the Golden State Warriors failed us for the second time at home – something they hadn’t done for an entire year prior to losing to the Boston Celtics last week.

Yet, here we are, the Dubs wilting in the face of history, and we still need to keep on picking games. Luckily we don’t need to figure out if the Warriors will blow it again tonight, as they don’t play. We do need to keep an eye on teams resting guys tonight, as well as some young talent trying to prove itself as the regular season draws to a close. Tonight gives us a healthy 8-game schedule to work with, so let’s dive in and see where we may want to go with our bets:

Pistons @ Magic

Line: Pistons -2  Total: 208

Detroit still has their eye on a playoff spot as they head to the Amway Center to battle an on again, off again Magic squad. Stan Van Gundy and Tobias Harris take on their former team to fulfill the revenge narrative, but we can’t dismiss the Magic, who have been competitive lately and are a solid 21-17 at their home base. That being said, Detroit won both meetings earlier this year and can’t afford to let this one slip through their fingers.

Pick: Pistons 106, Magic 101

Hornets @ Knicks

Line: Hornets -4.5 Total: 197

Kristaps Porzingis and Jose Calderon remain shelved, so it’s all about Melo at the Madison Square Garden tonight. That hasn’t brought winning results lately (Knicks are 3-7 in last 10 games), while a date with a very solid Hornets team probably spells trouble. Charlotte could be without Nicolas Batum for the second straight game, though, and they’ve lost two in a row. With the Southeast Division still within reach, tonight is a good opportunity for the Hornets to get back on track.

Pick: Hornets 104, Knicks 89

Thunder @ Blazers

Line: N/A Total: N/A

OKC really should be limiting or resting their stars the rest of the way, so we should keep an eye on that happening tonight in what amounts to a meaningless road game in Portland. The Blazers still have some seeding to figure out, as they’d probably much rather face the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, instead of OKC. We can expect a good amount of points in this one, but as long as OKC doesn’t sit their main guys, a Thunder win is likely.

Pick: Thunder 107, Blazers 103

Clippers @ Lakers

Line: Clippers -11.5 Total: 208

The Black Mamba faces the Clippers for the final time tonight, so he’ll suit up after getting trounced by Lob City just last night. That does put both teams on leveled playing field in terms of rest, but Los Angeles is not playing well right now and as we know, has been awful all year. Bryant may have a gem up his sleave and the Clippers should be resting some guys, but it’s still tough to call an upset here.

Pick: Clippers 109, Lakers 97

Cavs @ Pacers

Line: N/A Total: N/A

Cleveland’s magic number is two more wins to lock up the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, so resting guys probably isn’t something they’re thinking about tonight when they prepare to face the Pacers in Indiana. The LeBron James vs. Paul George narrative has led to three very intense battles this year, but the end result has been a Cavs win every time. Indy is fighting for a playoff appearance at home, so we’d love to pull for the upset here, but the Cavs are red hot with four straight wins and own a very solid 25-14 road record.

Pick: Cavs 101, Pacers 98

Nets @ Wizards

Line: Wizards -14.5 Total: 208

Brooklyn has already shut down Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez, and tonight they’ll take their stripped down roster on the road. They’ll face the Wiz, who are healthy and battling for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Wiz was big at the Barclays Center earlier this year, and with their sights set on making the playoffs, they shouldn’t slow down in a big home win tonight.

Pick: Wizards 115, Nets 96

Pelicans @ Celtics

Line: Celtics -14.5 Total: 208.5

The banged up Pelicans fell to the Sixers last night, so they’ll ented TD Garden hurt, embarrassed and probably even a little tired. Boston is in the playoffs, but they can still get the three seed or tumble down to the 8th spot if they’re not careful. Look for them to go full speed at home in a big win over New Orleans.

Pick: Celtics 108, Pellies 94

Rockets @ Mavs

Line: Rockets -2.5 Total: 207

Houston visits Dallas as the two Southwest Division foes continue to battle for a Western Conference playoff spot. The loser could easily end up being the odd man out when it comes to the playoff picture, while Dallas has turned the jets back on recently with four straight wins. Dirk Nowitzki has especially been good, while Houston’s weak defense and Dwight Howard seemingly checking out make the Rockets a poor bet to finish .500 this year. Houston holds the 2-1 edge on the season series, but with the game in Dallas and the Mavs playing better basketball, we’ll take the mild upset here.

Pick: Mavs 106, Rockets 103

The NBA took a backseat to MLB’s Opening Day on Monday, sporting precisely zero games on yesterday’s docket. That should give us some time to get our barrings straight, however, as we prepare for a fully loaded 11-game slate on Tuesday night.

The stars are back out to play, as LeBron James, Stephen Curry and even Blake Griffin should all take the court in their respective games tonight. Teams are mostly just putting the finishing touches on seeding, while we need to pay special mind to teams resting players and the teams that do still have something to play for. Let’s take a look at tonight’s heavy slate and see which way you might want to be leaning with your NBA bets:

Cavs @ Bucks

Line: Cavs -7.5 Total: 203

Cleveland continues to be a risky play just because they can and will rest key players, but they also want to make sure they keep the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, as well as keep their positive momentum going. They’re less formidable on the road and the Bucks are good at the Bradley Center, but Cleveland is rounding into a title contender right before our eyes. Provided their main guys are active, they should win their fourth consecutive game tonight.

Pick: Cavs 104, Bucks 97

Bulls @ Grizzlies

Line: Bulls -3 Total: 201

Derrick Rose (elbow) is back tonight, which should give the Bulls an extra shot int he arm on the road against the Grizz. The Bulls are being led by Jimmy Butler, who is playing at a high level despite not being fully healthy. Chicago won their last game and is slowly starting to right the ship now that they’re getting healthy. They could still collapse and are a shaky bet, but I like them to get another win and get back closer to a playoff spot.

Pick: Bulls 102, Grizzlies 96

Blazers @ Kings

Line: Blazers -2.5 Total: 223

The second biggest Total of the night is in Sac-town with the Blazers and Kings facing off. DeMarcus Cousins is only playing homes games to close out the year, so he’ll be on hand to try to fend off a Portland squad that can still lock up the #5 seed. They’ve also won all three of the previous meetings, so we’ll take the Blazers in a shootout.

Pick: Blazers 108, Kings 105

Lakers @ Clippers

Line: Clippers -14.5 Total: 208

Kobe Bryant takes on the Clippers in a “road” game at the Staples Center tonight, just days after dropping 34 points on the Celtics. He looks to be giving it his all as he wraps up a brilliant career, and it will be interesting to see if he can keep the Lake Show within tonight’s rich spread. Blake Griffin is back and the Clippers have been stout all year, though, so it’s tough to buy a close game here. That being said, the Clippers aren’t playing for anything right now and may take it easy on their guys enough to let the Lakers hang around.

Pick: Clips 111, Lakers 104

Pelicans @ 76ers

Line: 76ers -2.5 Total: 207

These are two terrible teams, as both lack talent and are also ravaged by injuries. Philly gets a slight edge with Ish Smith and Robert Covington in their lineup, plus they’re at home, but New Orleans has oddly remained pretty competitive even though all their stars are done for the year. The talent level will keep this game close, but the Pellies have shown enough lately to have a little faith.

Pick: Pelicans 102, Sixers 98

Hornets @ Raptors

Line: Raptors -4 Total: 200.5

In easily one of the more meaningful games of the night, both the Hornets and Raptors should play hard as they try to lock up seeding. Charlotte is actually still playing for first in the Southeast Division, while Toronto holds onto faint hopes of catching the Cavaliers for the best record in the Eastern Conference. The latter isn’t going to happen, but Toronto is tough (29-9) at Air Canada Centre and this series has been split, 1-1. Being the better team, look for Toronto to seal the deal and take the season series lead at home.

Pick: Raptors 106, Hornets 102

Suns @ Hawks

Line: Hawks -14 Total: 207

Atlanta has really turned their season around, as they quickly went from a pedestrian squad to one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. They suddenly have a shot at their division and being at home (24-14 on their home floor) against a beaten up Suns team gives them a clear advantage tonight. Brandon Knight (groin) has been ruled out for the rest of the season, too, so Phoenix will be far less of a threat in this one. Even so, a -14 line is too gaudy to chase.

Pick: Hawks 106, Suns 97

Pistons @ Heat

Line: Heat -4 Total: 202

Here’s another game where two teams have a lot to battle for, as the Heat have a division title to win and the Pistons are still trying to keep the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Detroit isn’t that great on the road and Miami specifically plays their best ball in South Beach, but Dwyane Wade’s status (questionable) could have a big impact on this one. We’ll take Miami to cover if he’s in, and a Pistons upset if he’s out.

Pick: Heat 103, Pistons 98

Thunder @ Nuggets

Line: Thunder -8.5 Total: 216

OKC has no business sending their main guys out there at the Pepsi Center tonight, but it’s likely Billy Donovan and co. will want to keep their momentum going. The Thunder are the easy call if their main stars play, but be sure to keep an eye on whether or not Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant rest. For now, OKC looks like an easy pick to win/cover.

Pick: Thunder 107, Nuggets 96

Spurs @ Jazz

Line: Spurs -3.5 Total: 183

Two stingy defenses battle it out in Utah tonight, but with nothing but momentum to play for, we should see some Spurs sit this one out. Utah is pretty good on their home floor (24-14) and still needs to finalize a playoff spot, so this could be a good place to go for an upset over the Spurs.

Pick: Jazz 96, Spurs 92

Timberwolves @ Warriors

Line: Warriors -15.5 Total: 225

Golden State is no longer invincible at the Oracle Arena, as they did fall to the Celtics last week at home. That being said, they’ve lost just one on their home floor in the past calendar year and the Timberwolves are a very erratic team. They can make this one competitive initially due to a solid offense, but Steph Curry and co. should pull away late for a big home win. Golden State shouldn’t be resting anyone, either, as they continue their bid for NBA history.

Pick: Warriors 116, Timberwolves 106

The Tampa Bay Lightning are neck and neck with the Florida Panthers atop the Atlantic Division in the NHL’s Eastern Conference. Even if they don’t take first place, they still have the balance and talent to make some serious noise during the NHL playoffs. And until recently, they were considered a realistic dark horse to make a run at the 2016 Stanley Cup.

Stamkos Done

Now, possibly not so much. Thanks to news on Sunday that star center Steven Stamkos will miss the next 1-3 months due to a blood clot in his arm, the team is now reeling, wondering how it’s going to make up for the loss on offense. The 26-year old Stamkos was the focal point of Tampa Bay’s strong offense, chipping in 36 goals on the year, along with 28 assists in 77 games.

Stamkos is expected to be fine going forward and his blood clot issue is not projected to be “career threatening”. A surgery on Monday made sure of that, but the long recovery period will end Stamkos’ 2015-16 NHL season prematurely – rendering him useless for the first time in two seasons.

The blood clot complicates two matters for the Lightning. The loudest of which is Tampa Bay’s plight for a deep playoff run, which until looked to have a strong back bone.

The other issue is the future of the Lightning without Stamkos, who could now leave the team in free agency this summer. The 26-year old Stamkos is now going to be a health risk to a certain degree, but should still also command serious cash on the open market. That could have him jetting to greener pastures if the money and situation is better. An ongoing story-line regarding Stamkos’ future indeed just got a lot more complicated.

Stanley Cup Odds

For now, all Tampa Bay can do is plan for the playoffs without their star and hope for the best. They don’t hold terrible odds to win the NHL title (15/1), but they’re far from the favorites (Capitals at 3/1) and their odds should only take a hit from here.

Even without Stamkos Tampa Bay still has a solid offense, as well as a strong defense to hang their hat on. They’ve also been just as good on the road this year (20-15-2) as at home, giving way to the possibility that they can beat anyone at anytime, anywhere.

The loss of Stamkos could also possibly give Tampa Bay a boost when it comes to team morale, as the team could rally together to try to make up for the staggering loss. On paper, we can’t count the Lightning out, but the loss of Stamkos is massive. They could still end up being a fun Stanley Cup bet based on odds (if/when they drop), but realistically their chances of winning it all in 2016 have taken a hit they probably won’t be able to overcome.

After a relatively light (but not boring) Thursday night in the NBA, the bright lights come out for a heavy 10-game slate. Not only do we have a fully loaded schedule to cap the regular work week, but we also get Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors to close out the night. They’re at home against the Boston Celtics, in what should be one of the more exciting games of the night.

To see how that game and the rest of the slate will go, join us as we check out the odds and deliver our NBA picks for Friday night:

Nets @ Knicks

Line: Knicks -5.5 Total: 201

Brooklyn is inexplicably resting guys even though they’re not saving themselves for a playoff run, so they’re a tough team to gauge on a nightly basis. This one is at MSG, too, and the Knicks are pretty solid at home. As long as Kristaps Porzingis is back and Melo isn’t randomly rested, I like the Knicks to win the fourth battle of NYC and notch the season series up, 2-2.

Pick: Knicks 101, Nets 94

Magic @ Bucks

Line: Bucks -2 Total: 208

Orlando is kind of hot right now (three straight wins) and just got star center Nikola Vucevic back, so they’re suddenly a team to watch to finish strong. The same goes for the Bucks, who tend to rock it at the Bradley Center (22-15 at home). This game should be pretty tight, but Orlando is awful on the road and Milwaukee thrives at home.

Pick: Bucks 102, Magic 99

76ers @ Hornets

Line: Hornets -15 Total: 208

Philly is down most of their talent and the task of winning in Charlotte is too big tonight. Not only are the Hornets a blistering 27-11 on their home floor, but they’re also ablaze (7-3 in last 10 games) and are still fighting for the Southeast Division title.

Pick: Hornets 109, Sixers 90

Mavs @ Pistons

Line: Pistons -5.5 Total: 206

Dallas finally got a win last time out, but they’re on the road tonight and will be without Deron Williams and Chandler Parsons is of course done for the year. Dirk Nowitzki has looked bad lately, too, so Dallas should continue to slip here. Of course, not without a fight (they’ll beat the spread).

Pick: Pistons 103, Mavs 101

Cavs @ Hawks

Line: Hawks -2.5 Total: 206

Cleveland could keep resting guys tonight, as they hold a three-game lead over the Raptors for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. ATL is also playing for the Southeast Division crown and is pretty tough at home (24-13). They’re also one of the hottest teams in the league right now (8-2 in their last 10 contests) so if even one guy sits for Cleveland, the Hawks should win. Heck, they might, regardless.

Pick: Hawks 104, Cavs 101

Raptors @ Grizzlies

Line: Raptors -5.5 Total: 198

Memphis is as beaten down as teams get, as all they really have these days is a banged up Zach Randolph. They’ve lost four straight and 8 of their last 10 and look like they’ll limp into the playoffs on life support. Toronto is still playing for the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, so they’ll go hard and take advantage tonight.

Pick: Raptors 106, Grizz 98

Timberwolves @ Jazz

Line: Jazz -8.5 Total: 193

Utah has stayed hot in their pursuit for a playoff spot, going 7-3 in their last 10 games and tonight they get a suspect Minnesota team at home. The Wolves can pour on the offense at times, but the Jazz are 23-14 on their home floor and already have a 2-1 season series edge. Utah should get back to .500 at home tonight.

Pick: Jazz 97, Wolves 90

Heat @ Kings

Line: Heat -8 Total: 213

DeMarcus Cousins will miss tonight’s action due to a suspension, so the Kings look to be in a bad way against a good Miami team. Like the Hornets and Hawks, Miami can ill afford to lose tonight as they continue to fight for the top spot in the Southeast Division. They’ll also want to get the taste of a loss to the Lakers out of their mouths.

Pick: Heat 104, Kings 96

Celtics @ Warriors

Line: Warriors -12 Total: 222

Golden State is still chasing the NBA record for wins in a season, and they also enter tonight with zero losses at the Oracle Arena on the year. Boston is certainly a threat to be the first team to take them down, but it’s unlikely to happen. The Celtics played last night and could be a little tired. I expect a good game and Boston to beat the spread, but the Dubs win again.

Pick: Warriors 108, Celtics 104

Wizards @ Suns

Line: Wizards -8 Total: 214

Here’s another up-tempo game that could be a ton of fun, assuming the Suns show up. Washington still needs wins to get into the playoffs and they should get one tonight, as Phoenix is sliding again with four straight losses. Markieff Morris returns home for some revenge, too, so the Wiz could rally behind him in a big win.

Pick: Wiz 107, Suns 97

Explosive offense isn’t always easy to come by in the NFL. One week you have it and you can look unbeatable, the next an injury or suspension derails your offense completely. That simple fact is one key reason why even the biggest disappointments routinely get second and third chances in the league, and that’s why Percy Harvin will get yet another crack in 2016.

Despite numerous injuries and rumors he was pondering retirement, the speedy wide receiver is fully expected to suit up again next season and is reportedly currently weighing his options. Harvin stretched defenses still when he was at his best with the Buffalo Bills last year, but numerous health issues cut his 2015 campaign to just five games.

Harvin appears ready for one last go around, whether it be for one year or several years, but is hoping to make his next contract his “last stop”. Buffalo is said to have a standing offer waiting on the table, but Harvin may be wise to join a team closer to contending for a Super Bowl. Still just 27 years old, there is an argument to be made that a healthy Harvin hasn’t yet seen his best NFL season.

Durability is a huge concern, but Harvin’s talent is worth taking a risk on, especially if someone can get him for little guaranteed money. The big question, of course, is who could use him? Let’s take a look at five potential landing spots other than Buffalo:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh makes a lot of sense, as they have a very wide receiver-friendly vertical offense and need to replace suspended deep threat, Martavis Bryant. Bryant is gone for all of 2016 and to this point all that is set to replace him is the erratic Markus Wheaton and the unproven Sammie Coates. The Steelers could just as easily opt to draft a receiver or two, but signing Harvin on a discounted deal could give them that speed they’re losing and keep their offense from losing any of its potency.

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay struggled throughout 2015 due to a very lethargic offense – one that never fully got over losing star wide receiver Jordy Nelson to a knee injury. Nelson’s size and speed gave the Packers an option over the top and in the red-zone that without him they were never able to replicate. Nelson is due back in 2016, but James Jones is gone, Jeff Janis is still raw and Davante Adams failed in a larger role. Spicing up a position they formerly felt was their deepest suddenly could be a necessity. Harvin is a low risk/high reward signing if Ted Thompson can orchestrate a cheap deal.

New England Patriots

New England has long been searching for someone to take the top off of defenses ever since they parted ways with Randy Moss. They have an elite tight end and a nice collection of sure-handed receivers, but they still lack that explosive option that can burn defenses that play close to the line. Harvin is a shaky health risk and a headache personality, but he’s also potentially precisely the weapons the Pats need. Bill Belichick is known for taking on reclamation projects and seeing them thrive, so it could be a match made in football heaven.

Carolina Panthers

Kelvin Benjamin missed all of last year and is no lock to be back to 100% in 2016. Even if he is, Carolina is otherwise sporting an aging Ted Ginn Jr., and that’s pretty much it. The Panthers are trying to make it back to the Super Bowl with very little offensive fire power, yet they actually were one of the best offenses in the league in 2015. To keep that trend going, they may want to consider adding some speed to the wide receiver position. Harvin would certainly fit the bill in that area.

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners are the only team on this list that wouldn’t look like the ideal situation. They have a new head coach in Chip Kelly, aren’t sure if they want to keep quarterback Colin Kaepernick and don’t appear close to even getting back into the playoffs. However, Kelly’s explosive offensive system could benefit Harvin’s skill-set greatly, and perhaps with Kap he could revive his career. It’s not overly likely with Harvin probably preferring to go to a good situation where he has a serious chance at winning something, but schematically it could be a perfect fit.

Buffalo is still a very good spot for Harvin, as he clicked early on with quarterback Tyrod Taylor and seems to be well liked by Rex Ryan and his Bills teammates. He makes good sense there, but with Buffalo no lock to make the playoffs, Harvin could be looking for greener pastures in 2016. If he picks one of the aforementioned franchises, he could end up being a huge asset and quickly put a more positive spin on what has been an up and down career.

The Toronto Raptors are seen by some as a realistic threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. Standing in at 49-24 and just three wins behind the Cavs, there isn’t much evidence to combat that.

DeMarre’s Battle

The big question, of course, is if Toronto can catch Cleveland for the #1 seed without swing man DeMarre Carroll before the regular season dries up. More importantly, once in the playoffs, just how far can they go without their best defender?

Carroll proved to be a strong defensive asset in his first 23 games with the Raptors, racking up almost two steals a game, while chipping in 11 points per contest on the offensive end. Unfortunately he dealt with a troublesome knee and ended up having surgery to ensure he’d be ready to help Toronto with a deep playoff run later in the year.

The time to help has arrived, but per reports, Carroll has suffered a set-back and can no longer be relied upon to help the Raptors close out the regular season strong. In fact, it’s possible he might not be able to help Toronto at all.

Lowry Ailing

With Carroll likely not due back unless the Raptors make a deep playoff run, Toronto may be left wondering what could have been. Add Kyle Lowry to the pile of problems, as a sore elbow has reportedly impacted his shooting and has him on shutdown alert.

Losing Carroll is bad enough, but Toronto has at least maneuvered through a huge part of the 2015-16 season without their prized free agent acquisition. Trying to close the regular season strong and make serious noise in the playoffs without Lowry, however, is a totally different issue.

At this point Lowry does not seem likely to miss much time (and maybe not any) and Toronto has hopes of it being a passing problem. Still, with one key player already probably lost for the beginning of the playoffs, Toronto is playing with fire when it comes to the injury bug.

Title Odds

As they stand, Toronto is still the second best team coming out of the Eastern Conference and even with Lowry now also hindered, they still have a shot at catching Cleveland for the top seed. That isn’t their chief concern, however. The bigger problem is focusing on the first round of the playoffs, which could still reveal a very tough out. Judging by the current Eastern Conference playoff standings, Toronto can prepare for a first round date with the Detroit Pistons. Due to their size and athleticism, Detroit could be a handful, too.

Vegas puts Toronto (+2500 odds) in a decent spot to make a run at the 2016 NBA Finals, resting comfortably as the fifth most likely NBA team to win the league title this summer. But should they?

The idea of the Raptors rising from the ashes of a 4-0 first round exit last year isn’t crazy, but it requires Carroll locking down the opposition’s top offensive player and chipping in timely outside shooting. Carroll was an underrated piece of the puzzle that led to the Atlanta Hawks taking the #1 seed a year ago and by all accounts, he could have helped the Raptors do the very same had he not gotten hurt.

In the playoffs, Carroll would be counted on to slow down megastars like LeBron James, Paul George, Dwyane Wade and others. Without him, the defensive pressure falls on Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, both of which are more than capable defensively, but need to save their efforts for the offensive end. In turn, that also puts a focus on Toronto’s best big man – Jonas Valanciunas. Already one prone to foul trouble, attacking Jonas V down low gives opponents an advantage, at least hypothetically.

In other words, the Raptors are a very strong team and even without Carroll, they’re every bit as good as their 49 wins suggest. They’re not the only solid Eastern Conference team, however, and they absolutely need Carroll to take down the Cleveland Cavaliers. Needless to say, unless word breaks that Carroll will be returning a lot sooner than later, consider slow-playing those bets on Toronto to win it all this season.

A six-game NBA slate awaits us on Tuesday night, as we get a slew of interesting matchups. Even the teams duking it out that have no playoff hopes make for interesting matchups, while there is still plenty to play for with nine prospective playoff contenders in action tonight. Let’s dive in and see which teams deserve your betting interests:

Bulls @ Pacers

Line: Pacers -7.5 Total: 201.5

Talk about two division rivals going in completely opposite directions, as the Bulls are just about toast with four straight losses. Indiana, meanwhile, has risen to second in the Central Division with a 6-4 run in their last 10 games. Chicago should have all of their key players on hand, but that hasn’t done much to help them lately. Most of their stars are playing hurt and just aren’t overly effective on either end. Throw in a weak 12-23 road record, and the Bulls should inch closer to completely slipping out of the playoff race.

Pick: Pacers 105, Bulls 99

Nets @ Magic

Line: Magic -6.5 Total: 211.5

Both the Magic and Nets are beaten up, but they’ve combined for a couple of solid games this year, with Orlando ending all three of their previous meetings as the victor. That trend could continue tonight with this game at the Amway Center, where the Magic are at their best usually (19-17). They’re banged up pretty bad with both Nikola Vucevic and Victor Oladipo possibly out, though, so this could be a good spot to pick the Nets to beat the spread.

Pick: Magic 104, Nets 102

Hornets @ Sixers

Line: Hornets -11.5 Total: 208

Charlotte has been fantastic lately (7-3 in last 10) and they also continue to fight for the Southeast Division crown. Those are two key reasons why it’s hard to imagine them caving to a bad Sixers team – even on the road. Philly is better at home usually, but they’re still just 6-30 there. The Sixers are also down their two best big men and probably wouldn’t pose much of a threat even if they were healthy. Look for the Hornets to go up 3-0 in the season series tonight and cover.

Pick: Hornets 110, Sixers 94

Thunder @ Pistons

Line: Thunder -3 Total: 215

Reggie Jackson welcomes in his former team tonight as he eyes revenge. It could elude him for the second time, however, as OKC comes in white hot with 8 straight wins, while the Thunder raked the Pistons over the coals earlier this year. Detroit is good at home (24-13), but they’re not efficient enough to take down a Thunder team that is absolutely rolling right now.

Pick: Thunder 107, Pistons 102

Rockets @ Cavs

Line: Cavs -2 Total: 212

LeBron James is out tonight (rest), so it’s on Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith to protect Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland has been great at home all year (30-6), but they’re just 1-2 in games where King James sits. That being said, Houston has been a disaster and probably won’t be able to get out of their own way. Cleveland also has Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov to combat Dwight Howard and Matthew Dellavedova and Iman Shumpert to help slow down James Harden. We’ll take the Cavs to cover at home.

Pick: Cavs 104, Rockets 100

Wizards @ Warriors

Line: Warriors -13 Total: 227

Golden State is one of the easier straight up picks of the night, as they haven’t lost at home all year (35-0) and are total beasts at the Oracle Arena. Washington can be tough, but they’re usually at their best when they’re imposing their fast-paced will on teams. The Dubs will enjoy running with them and can demolish them at their own game, though, so its not a good spot for them. They’re also pretty meh (17-18) on the road. They’re trending in the right direction (6-4 in last 10) and I like them to beat the spread, but the Dubs will win.

Pick: Warriors 112, Wizards 108