Just two years ago Colin Kaepernick was said to be the next great quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers. He took over for an injured Alex Smith, got the Niners to within a fourth down of winning a Super Bowl and looked to be on top of the world. Instead of ascending, Kaepernick’s world crumbled around him as the 49ers disintegrated, the team parted ways with quarterback whisperer John Harbaugh and Kaerpernick fell underneath all the wreckage.

It sounds like he’s seeking a fresh start. Even with the Niners bringing in former Oregon and Eagles head coach Chip Kelly last month, the writing on the wall is that Kaepernick is done in the Bay Area and may have eyes for the New York Jets.

Kaepernick wanting out of San Francisco isn’t shocking, as he was benched for backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert last year and never had a chance to get his job back. The 49ers also didn’t do a great job putting quality talent around him on offense, and instead let him sink. Much of the blame for San Francisco’s free fall from Super Bowl contenders to NFC West fodder fell on Kaepernick’s shoulders, and it’s easy to see why he’d probably want to remove himself from his current situation.

Many felt that the addition of Kelly could help Kaepernick, but Kelly was quick to point out that Kaepernick wasn’t the only suitable athlete who could play quarterback on the 49ers roster – that Gabbert could also be the right fit for his offense. Whether that comment rubbed Kap the wrong way or he has been planning his exit for the past few months doesn’t matter. The point is he’s looking for a way out currently and the Jets could be his ticket.

New York leaned hard on veteran gunslinger Ryan Fitzpatrick a year ago, and as good as he was for most of 2015, he was a big reason why the team failed to make the playoffs. Fitzpatrick caved under the pressure and tossed three picks in a bad loss to the Bills in week 17, when a win would have pushed Gang Green into post-season play. While one game doesn’t make any player, it could have been a telling sign that Fitzpatrick did what he was paid to do, and nothing more.

New York’s quick rise and fall could have them looking in three directions: going back to former would-be franchise quarterback Geno Smith, trusting yet again in Fitzpatrick or moving on to a new outside source – Kaepernick. If it were up to Kaepernick, apparently they’d choose the latter. Whether the Jets do that or not remains to be determined, but there’s no denying the fact that the move would benefit Kaepernick and offer him the fresh start he arguably deserves.

The bigger question for sports bettors is what this could mean for the Jets and 49ers. For San Francisco, not much would change. Kap wasn’t necessarily in their plans and if anything, shedding his contract would grant them freedom to boost their roster. Blaine Gabbert might not be the answer, but in Kelly’s system, it’s been proven the talent under center doesn’t necessarily dictate winning or losing. San Francisco could be fine, if not improved.

The same could be true for the Jets, but they were already a borderline playoff team and it’s tough to say Kaepernick would fare better than Fitzpatrick in an increasingly tough AFC East – not to mention the AFC in general. If he’s the Kaepernick of old, it’s an upgrade and an exciting one that adds the deep ball and elite running ability at the quarterback position. It also could be a huge step back for a New York team that appeared to make serious progress in 2015.

The Phoenix Suns are officially moving in a different direction at the head coaching spot, as the team reportedly cut ties with Jeff Hornacek on Monday. Hornacek took over the reigns for Alvin Gentry over two years ago and immediately fielded a competitive team that looked ready to get back into the playoffs. That didn’t happen during Hornacek’s time, but the team really fell apart this year, stumbling to a 14-35 start to open up the 2015-16 NBA year.

OFFICIAL: pic.twitter.com/8RMDjyKhpM

— #WeArePHX (@Suns) February 1, 2016

The last straw was likely the Suns’ 19 losses in their last 21 games, as Hornacek was unable to turn things around despite rumors of his possible firing starting to circle the team in early December. It’s arguable that Hornacek never really stood a chance, however. The team has made major roster changes in the 2.5 years he’s been in Phoenix, with both Isaiah Thomas and Goran Dragic being dealt in trades, as well as versatile forward Marcus Morris being shipped to Detroit in another trade.

The lack of continuity on the Suns would have been difficult enough to deal with, but the trading of Marcus Morris rubbed twin brother Markieff Morris the wrong way – so much so that it impacted his play and eventually even his role with the team. Morris’ mood and play became a central distraction, while at the same time robbing Hornaceck of a quality starter in the rotation. Phoenix also failed to land prized free agent LaMarcus Aldridge this past summer, and were left with aged center Tyson Chandler as a consolation prize.

Then injuries struck, with star point guard Eric Bledsoe going down with a knee injury. Brandon Knight, Mirza Teletovic, Tyson Chandler and even Morris himself all missed time this year with ailments, as well. Needless to say, Hornacek entered Phoenix with a suitable roster and almost got them to the playoffs two years in a row. The talent and chemistry deteriorated from there, and as early as last season there were whispers that he could be on his way out. Hornaceck wasn’t able to rebound from a slow start this year and with the losing getting out of control, it’s hard to fault the Suns from deciding to go in a different direction in the new year.

The Suns certainly have a lot of work to do to get competitive again, as their best player won’t be healthy until next year and whoever their interim coach ends up being – likely Earl Watson or Corey Gaines – the search for a long-term replacement is likely going to be delayed until after the season.

Little progress can be made until the Suns start looking to the future and trading away disgruntled players that don’t want to be in the desert, though. Morris absolutely needs to go before February’s NBA trade deadline, while veterans like Tyson Chandler, P.J. Tucker and Mirza Teletovic could help out contenders elsewhere. The Suns have some very nice young talent to continue grooming in Archie Goodwin, Devin Booker, T.J. Warren and Alex Len, so mission A needs to be actually making the most of their time throughout the rest of the year.

None of this makes the Suns a fun try in NBA betting, and we surely won’t be seeing a magical turn around into a playoff contender this year. Considering the Suns got rid of a solid head coach who got them to nearly 50 wins in his first season, it’s unlikely anyone will do a much better job right away next season, either. That being said, the Suns have a lot of good talent and should make some trades to put the wheels in motion to land even more talent going into next year. If the franchise plays their cards right, they could start building towards a playoff return within the next 2-3 seasons.

The NBA gets numerous competitive matchups on a fun 9-game Friday night, but none are more tantalizing than James Harden’s return to Oklahoma City. Harden has been back to face the Thunder before, and truth be told, this would be a big game even if it were in Houston. Still, it’s amplified by the location and we can probably expect big performances out of Harden, Dwight Howard, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.

The real question, of course, is who wins? We’ll touch on that and the rest of tonight’s NBA action in tonight’s picks:

Magic @ Celtics

Boston and Orlando are headed in very opposite directions, with the Celtics riding a four-game winning streak and Orlando simply lost in the midst of seven straight defeats. The Celtics are the better team and are at home, while Orlando is just 8-13 on the road this year. Even though it doesn’t look good for the Magic, I expect them to fight hard and keep this one tight.

Pick: Celtics 104, Magic 101

Suns @ Knicks

New York is badly beaten up, so even against the Suns at home, they will need Jose Calderon, Carmelo Anthony and/or Kristaps Porzingis back. Phoenix is also under-manned, but they’ve been getting strong efforts out of Archie Goodwin and Devin Booker. Melo and Zinger figure to be back tonight, though, which should allow the Knicks to halt a four-game skid.

Pick: Knicks 101, Suns 98

Heat @ Bucks

Miami takes on Milwaukee for the second time in January, having lost to the Bucks at home 10 days ago. Now a lot healthier than they were then, the Heat should be able to enter the Bradley Center and get a win. The Bucks have been just mediocre in their last 10 games (5-5), while Goran Dragic is due back and Dwyane Wade has been white hot in his last three games.

Pick: Heat 97, Bucks 92

Hornets @ Blazers

Portland has turned their second around lately, winning two straight and six of their last 10 to pull into the Western Conference playoff picture. They’re still below .500 and have a tough test tonight, though, as the Hornets come to town and are looking a little healthier with Nicolas Batum back in the starting lineup. Charlotte has kept things together despite being ravaged by injury, but they’re the better team in this matchup and Batum could be out for some revenge against his former squad.

Pick: Hornets 105, Blazers 102

Lakers @ Clippers

The battle of Los Angeles goes down tonight, although it has certainly lost its luster (and unpredictability) with the Lakers being as bad as ever. Blake Griffin remains out but the Clippers won’t need much to take down the Lakers “at home” in this one.

Pick: Clips 112, Lakers 104

Cavs @ Pistons

Cleveland heads back to Detroit for the second time this year, as they faced the Pistons earlier this year and lost. The Cavs are still the best team in the Eastern Conference and have gotten things going a bit with two straight wins, so look for them to keep pushing in a big road win.

Pick: Cavs 102, Pistons 96

Rockets @ Thunder

In what is without a doubt the game of the night, James Harden returns to OKC to battle his former team. Harden went nuts with 37 points in their meeting earlier this year in Houston. The Rockets have won five in a row in this series, but OKC is 9-1 in their last 10 games and an impressive 21-5 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Pick: Thunder 107, Rockets 105

Nets @ Mavs

Dallas and Brooklyn fought hard in a surprise overtime thriller earlier this year, a game in which Dallas escaped with a 119-118 win. Deron Williams was absent from that game, but will be on hand tonight as the Mavs try to go 2-0 in the season series. That’s fairly likely, considering Dallas is a strong 13-8 at home and the Nets are atrocious on the road (4-16).

Pick: Mavs 105, Nets 101

Timberwolves @ Jazz

The Timberwolves have shown their youth lately, losing 8 of their last 10 games. That hasn’t kept them from being competitive, though, as Zach Lavine and Karl-Anthony Towns have handed in some big performances in some tough losses. Things could get tougher tonight, as they take it to the road to face a good defensive Jazz squad. With Derrick Favors back and healthy, Utah should get the job done on their home floor.

Pick: Jazz 96, Timberwolves 90

The NBA calms down a bit on Thursday night, with just six games and no elite matchups. There are a few that should garner our interest, however, as the Hawks and Pacers go at it, while there is still hope for Anthony Davis to take the court against DeMarcus Cousins in a high-octane clash between the Pelicans and Kings.

The Brow is likely out, however, and that is likely to severely impact the way that game goes down. Be sure to stay on top of all the latest injury news outside of just Davis, as there are several big names that are banged up and could change the way you bet tonight. We’ll walk through every situation and see how it has us feeling for tonight’s NBA picks:

Hawks @ Pacers

Indiana got the upper hand in the only previous meeting this year, winning a close defensive battle at home. This one is in Indy, too, but the Pacers have struggled with three straight losses and just a 3-7 mark in their last 10 games. Atlanta is the better team these days, so look for that skid to continue as the Hawks even the season series.

Pick: Hawks 101, Pacers 97

Nuggets @ Wizards

A very high-paced matchup gets underway in D.C. tonight, as John Wall will likely be set to run circles around rookie Emmanuel Mudiay. Kenneth Faried and Danilo Gallinari could make this one interesting early, but with the Wiz expecting Brad Beal back, I like Washington at home.

Pick: Wizards 104, Nuggets 102

Knicks @ Raptors

New York won a shootout 111-109 the last time these two teams faced, but it may be tough to bank on that again with Carmelo Anthony questionable for this one. Toronto may also be without Kyle Lowry, though, so perhaps it could just be a duel between Kristaps Porzingis and DeMar DeRozan. That’s fun to think about, but Toronto is the better team, at home and riding a 9-game winning streak. Look for them to get #10 tonight.

Pick: Raptors 107, Knicks 104

Bucks @ Grizzlies

The Bucks visit Memphis to take on the Grizzlies for the first time this year, and it isn’t a great spot to be betting on them in. Memphis has turned things around defensively, while they’ve been a stout 17-7 on their home floor. Milwaukee has picked things up offensively and have gone on a nice 6-4 run, but they’re still not to be trusted on the road (7-20).

Pick: Grizz 102, Bucks 96

Kings @ Pelicans

If you’re looking for the highest scoring game of the night, you’ve found it. Anthony Davis is likely out but the Pellies still have plenty of offensive fire power to combat the visting Kings. Both defenses are trash with opponents scoring at least 105 points per game. Expect a high scoring game but if The Brow is out, the Kings should get the win.

Pick: Kings 107, Pelicans 105

Bulls @ Lakers

Not much needs to be said for this one, as the Lakers have been atrocious and simply do not defend. Chicago will randomly sputter out on the road, but this is the Lakers and they’re playing on national TV. Look for a big game out of Pau Gasol against his old team and a Bulls blowout win.

Pick: Bulls 105, Lakers 89

There are few things that are certain in life. Death and taxes definitely are up there, but the Warriors holding down the fort at Oracle Arena is certainly another. That’s so much the case for Golden State this year (they’re a perfect 21-0 at home) that they even housed a very good Spurs team by 30 on Monday. On Wednesday night they’re at home again and the Dallas Mavericks decided to stroll into town, on the second game of a back to back no less, without Dirk Nowitzki and Zaza Pachulia.

Not good, Dallas, not good.

The Warriors have to be the easiest pick of the night and they cap the action with the final game of Wednesday night’s schedule. Still, there are seven other games tonight and there is a lot to discuss, so let’s cover all the bases as we preview tonight’s NBA slate and hand out our picks:

Clippers @ Hawks

Los Angeles isn’t great on the road this year but they do fare well against the Eastern Conference. The Hawks are terrible at rebounding and have issues at point guard, too, so look for Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan to go nuts in a big road win.

Pick: Clippers 104, Hawks 101

Suns @ Cavs

Phoenix has been playing better lately thanks to big efforts out of Archie Goodwin and Alex Len, but it’s going to be extremely tough for them to go into Quicken Loans Arena and beat the Cavs tonight. It’s likely they won’t even be able to contend.

Pick: Cavs 107, Suns 94

Nuggets @ Celtics

Expect a high-scoring, fast-paced game tonight, as the Nuggets and Celtics both love to run. Denver plays zero defense, though, and the deep Celtics have plenty of able bodies to lock Denver down in spots tonight.

Pick: Celtics 105, Nuggets 100

76ers @ Pistons

Philly has been a lot better lately than some people are probably willing to admit, but going into Detroit and taking down a solid Pistons team is a reach. Look for Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond to both do as they please in a big home win.

Pick: Pistons 104, 76ers 92

Thunder @ Timberwolves

OKC is fresh off of an unlikely overtime thriller with the Knicks, so they could be awfully tired tonight in another road game. Luckily the Timberwolves are awful.

Pick: Thunde 106, Timberwolves 101

Rockets @ Spurs

No Tim Duncan for the Spurs, but San Antonio still plays great team defense and is undefeated at home this year. James Harden could draw Kawhi Leonard, which should stifle him enough to help the Spurs get the win.

Pick: Spurs 104, Rockets 98

Hornets @ Jazz

Utah has Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert back and the Hornets are depleted down low. They could get Nicolas Batum back tonight, but in Utah I have to side with the Jazz.

Pick: Jazz 88, Hornets 84

Mavericks at Warriors

Dallas is without their top two big men and the Warriors haven’t lost at home all year. I’d bet hard on the Warriors tonight.

Pick: Warriors 116, Mavs 98

DeMarcus Cousins went nuts on Monday night, kicking off the new NBA week in style with a career high 56 points – good for tops this season, as well. The Kings still lost in 2OT to the Hornets, but they’ll turn right around tonight and have a chance to win their sixth game in their last eight tries. That won’t be easy without small forward Rudy Gay (eye) and a tired crew, though, so NBA bettors have to look at this (and all of tonight’s matchups) from all angles.

We’ve got you covered luckily, as we break down all eight Tuesday night games and offer our NBA picks for 1/26/2016:

Clippers @ Pacers

This may be the best game of the night if the Clippers can keep themselves from flattening due to the latest Blake Griffin news (out more time with a hand injury). Luckily Lob City has remained cool and collected while he’s been outing, going a very strong 11-3 during that span. Indiana can be a threat – especially at home – but they don’t feel so daunting after losing six of their last 10 games. Paul George hasn’t looked elite consistently, either, while the Clips are a strong 12-5 against Eastern Conference teams. I’ll take the Clips to get a big road win as they try to start a new winning streak.

Pick: Clippers 103, Pacers 101

Thunder @ Knicks

New York definitely enjoys the most success at home (13-9 at MSG this year), but the Thunder are a tough opponent to face, home or away. OKC has been ablaze with 8 wins in their last 10 games and they’ll surely want to get the taste of a bad loss to the Nets out of their mouths. They also won’t want to get swept by the pedestrian Knicks, who squeaked a win by them in OKC earlier this year.

Pick: Thunder 107, Knicks 88

Magic @ Bucks

Orlando is in a really bad way right now, as they’ve free fallen from near the top of their division to the bottom with an ugly six-game losing streak. Just last night they had a huge road win over the Grizzlies in the bag and really showed their youth by blowing it. They did crush the Bucks at the Amway Center earlier this year but the Magic are 1-9 over their last 10 games and are just 8-12 on the road this year. I’d favor the Bucks, who are a pretty solid 12-7 at the Bradley Center and have at least kept it together lately (5-5 in last 10 contests).

Pick: Bucks 98, Magic 96

Kings @ Blazers

Boogie and co. will be without Rudy Gay and will surely be tired on the second game of a back-to-back (not to mention a 2OT game). Portland hasn’t been all that bad lately either (5-5 in last 10 games) and a healthy Damian Lillard has been helping them play more competitively. I would normally take the Kings but they could come out flat on the road.

Pick: Blazers 104, Kings 102

Suns @ 76ers

This is a very interesting game to pick, as the Suns are really banged up with injuries and even when they’re healthy they’re tough to love (2-8 in their last 10 games). They’ve been a dysfunctional bag of quit pretty much all year and with Brandon Knight out again tonight, they just don’t have a ton of talent to rely on. Philly has been better, too, winning three out of their last 10 games – which is good for half of their wins on the entire year. It’d be so Suns to bomb tonight, so I’m pulling for the Sixers.

Pick: 76ers 96, Suns 92

Heat @ Nets

Miami is beaten up beyond belief but there is still an outside chance they get some bodies back tonight. They don’t really need Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside back for the Nets, but Brooklyn is at their best at Barclays Center and Miami could be a little tired after playing last night. Everything points to Miami winning, but they’re not 100% and the Nets did win the last meeting. They just had a huge win over the Thunder in their last game, too, so they could be feeling pretty confident at home.

Pick: Nets 101, Heat 98

Wizards @ Raptors

John Wall has been in a bit of a rut and the Wiz have struggled to a rough 20-22 start, but they still have to find a way to compete when they arrive in Canada tonight. The Raptors are no joke, as they’re quiely a very good, balanced team. They’re also at home where they’re 15-6 and are riding a nice 8-game winning streak. The three previous meetings this year were all fairly close, but Toronto dictated the pace and got a win each time. Although it seemed unlikely going into the year, prepare to watch the Raptors secure the season sweep tonight.

Pick: Raptors 98, Wiz 95

Mavs @ Lakers

Dirk Nowitzki and Zaza Pachulia have both been banged up and could easily sit out of this one, but no one should have trouble picking this one. Los Angeles has just nine wins on the year and the last two times they faced Dallas this year they lost. Brace yourself for a good amount of points, but the Mavs should pull out the win.

Pick: Mavs 109, Lakers 104

Not much went as planned for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2015 NFL season. Head coach Chip Kelly completely transformed the roster and the team went from two straight 10-6 finishes to not even having a shot at an NFC East title that wound up being won by a 9-7 team. It was an ugly run, but the silver lining could have been the emergence of Zach Ertz.

Ertz came on strong to end the year, hauling in 13 receptions in week 16 and an impressive 40 catches over his final three games. Ertz’s hot run helped him notch career highs in receptions (75) and receiving yards (853). It also helped get him paid.

Per reports, the Eagles responded to Ertz’s breakout season by making sure he didn’t even consider moving on once he hit free agency, by signing him to a brand new five-year, $42.5 million extension. The move locks up one of Philly’s top weapons in the passing game just as he has begun to find his comfort zone in the league.

Zach Ertz’s 5-year, $42.5M contract extension with $20M in guarantees from the Eagles makes him the NFL’s 4th highest paid TE.

— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) January 25, 2016

It’s a great move for the now and for the future, as the Eagles would love to keep some sort of continuity as new head coach Doug Pederson comes in and tries to pick up where Kelly left off. Having a versatile and athletic tight end like Ertz that can create mismatches could be a big piece of that puzzle. Pederson was able to do big things with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce the past two years, so there is a good amount of optimism that he can help Ertz hit on even bigger numbers. The Eagles still are undecided on what to do at quarterback and may also end up bringing in new blood at wide receiver, but this move screams one thing loudly: gone are the days where Brent Celek steals time from Ertz.

Ertz is clearly on the rise in all regards and with this signing the Eagles are completing the transition from using Ertz sparingly to using him as a key part of the offense. The one spot they’ll have to work on maximizing his talents, however, is in the red-zone. Whether it be the system, scoring opportunities or quarterback play, Ertz did not get many chances to win in the red-zone, where his elite size, athleticism and ball skills should be put to use. Ertz ended 2015 with just two touchdowns, which ended up being a career low.

While Ertz has some flaws to his game and still has room to grow, this is a terrific signing for an Eagles team that isn’t that far from competing for the NFC East division and needn’t be wasting time worrying about future deals concerning their top young talents. With Ertz locked up, whoever ends up playing quarterback will now have a steady go-to option across the field, and hopefully in the red-zone, as well. Keeping Ertz for the long haul doesn’t guarantee the Eagles will be back in the playoff mix in 2015, but it’s a solid reinforcement that the talent they had on the roster already wasn’t a waste and that the new regime already feels they can make good use of numerous pieces on the current roster. A few strong moves going forward, and Ertz could end up playing a big hand in another turn around for the Eagles.

The Cleveland Cavaliers entered Friday as the best team in the Eastern Conference with a pathway carved out for a return trip to the 2016 NBA Finals. Apparently that wasn’t good enough to help David Blatt keep his job. In a rather shocking development, the Cavaliers have reportedly fired Blatt, removing him from his post after just 123 games at the helm.

Cleveland has fired coach David Blatt, sources tell Yahoo.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) January 22, 2016

Cleveland was not in dire straits before Blatt was let go, as the Cavs made it to the NBA Finals last year without the help of big man Kevin Love, while Kyrie Irving only lasted one game due to a knee issue. Despite that, the Cavs took an early 2-1 series lead before falling to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. Few could blame Blatt for the title defeat, as he was working with an under-manned team in his rookie year as an NBA head coach.

Heading into this season Blatt had pressure at the highest level to get back and win it all, and judging by a 30-11 record (good for first place in the Eastern Conference) he was at least on his way to getting another chance to make up for last year’s NBA Finals loss. Cleveland saw it differently, deciding to cut ties with Blatt now and move in a different direction.

In an equally surprising move, the Cavaliers acted rather quickly in naming a full-time and possibly even long-term replacement for Blatt, as assistant coach Tyronn Lue has reportedly reached an agreement with the team to take over as the new head coach. Lue has long been seen as a “player’s coach” and an up and coming coaching prospect. Lue was in talks for jobs prior to this season, and some viewed his ascension to an NBA coaching gig as something that was “just a matter of time”.

The ethics behind this switch can be debated, but they don’t end up being a whole lot different than what the Houston Rockets did earlier this year when they fired Kevin McGale and went with a younger assistant they felt could better reach the players. Lue, at least according to the Cavs, seems to be a similar answer for the short and possibly long-term.

There’s no doubt that Lue takes over a roster capable of winning a title, but if Blatt couldn’t get the Cavs to where they needed to be – and we’re talking about a guy who helped them reach the NBA Finals in his first go around – then it’s tough to suggest an extremely inexperienced Lue can do better right away.

While that’s open for debate, that argument appears to be two-sided, as many inside the league believe Lue is ready to take over right now and could be precisely what LeBron James and co. need. Whether that is the case remains to be determined, but something arguably needed to be done after the Cavs lost two key games this past week to the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. Cleveland remains the heavy favorite to emerge as the top title contender out of the Eastern Conference, but whether or not Lue makes them the favorite to take down the Western Conference’s representative remains to be determined.

LeBron James can’t love what he’s been seeing out of his Cleveland Cavaliers. Just a week ago the Cavs were without a doubt the best team in the Eastern Conference with a chance to show up the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs in the same week. They fell just short in San Antonio and then with Stephen Curry and co. entering Quicken Loans Arena with smack talk in hand, they got housed by 34 points.

Then again, as ugly as that 0-2 stand appears to be, perhaps James can’t be that mad. After all, those are the only two losses on Cleveland’s resume through their past 10 games (8-2), while they still have a six game lead over the Chicago Bulls in the Central Division (as well as the league). With a win over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers tonight, Cleveland would be the first Eastern Conference team to 30 wins on the year. That’d be a step in the right direction and perhaps the Cavs can figure out their Warriors or Spurs woes later this summer.

To see if Cleveland can handle L.A., read on for tonight’s NBA picks:

Los Angeles Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

The Clippers enter Cleveland rather hot, as they’ve won nine of their last 10 and have quietly turned into one of the better Western Conference teams. The whole while big man Blake Griffin has sat out with a quad injury and he’s expected to sit out yet again tonight. Taking down the East’s best team on the road may be too tall of an order, however. Cleveland tends to play their best ball on their home floor (15-2 at home this season), so picking the Clippers is tough tonight.

Pick: Cavs 106, Clippers 102

Detroit Pistons @ New Orleans Pelicans

Andre Drummond was a bit of an embarrassment last night, as he attempted a Pistons franchise record 36 free throws, only to miss an NBA record 23. Yuck, indeed. Detroit was forced to give their star center just 23 minutes because of his woeful shooting from the charity stripe, but even through all of that, they still beat the Rockets. Drummond’s work from the line is an eyebrow-raiser, but this is clearly still a very solid Detroit team – specifically because of their willingness to defend (allowing just 99 points per game). It’s tough to side with them on the road (9-12 away from home this year), but they’re facing the Pellies, who will be without Eric Gordon and have been an extremely weak defensive team all year. Look for Drummond to bounce back with a big game as the Pistons start building a winning streak.

Pick: Pistons 96, Pelicans 90

Memphis Grizzlies @ Denver Nuggets

Memphis is starting to look a little more like themselves, bit by bit, as they’ve kept their opponents right around 98 points per game and have begun a small climb up the Western Conference standings with a nice three-game run (7-3 in last 10). That’s largely due to Mike Conley returning to full strength and center Marc Gasol emerging from a rough shooting slump. It’s doubtful a bad Nuggets team will have much to say about any of that tonight – even at home. Denver’s home/road splits mean nothing this year and they simply don’t (or can’t) defend. Even a struggling Memphis offense (just 96 points per game) could go nuts in this matchup.

Pick: Grizzlies 104, Nuggets 96

Atlanta Hawks @ Sacramento Kings

Only two games on tonight’s slate have a clear competitive feel to them, with this one joining the Clippers/Cavs game. Atlanta has done a good job taking back the Southeast Division with a three-game winning streak, as their balanced play and depth across the bench have worked well together. Trusting the Hawks on the road is the issue, as they’re a very pedestrian 11-10 away from home this year, while they’ll be taking on an improving Kings squad that has won three straight and has been on a solid run (6-4 over last 10 games). DeMarcus Cousins is a huge reason why, as he simply can’t be contained lately and will probably do as he pleases against Al Horford down low. I like this to be a tight, high-scoring game, and the Kings have won me over lately.

Pick: Kings 102, Hawks 101

San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns

If you’re looking for the bet to book tonight, this is it. The Suns are falling apart at the seams and even if they weren’t, they are severely ravaged by injuries. They’ll have to dig deep tonight to even field a quality rotation, while competing with an elite Spurs squad just feels like a pipe dream. The Spurs are a little more vulnerable on the road (all six of their losses have come away from home), but they give up just 89 points per game and have won 11 straight games. San Antonio figures to rest some guys tonight, but it shouldn’t matter in a game I expect the Spurs to win quite easily.

Pick: Spurs 108, Suns 87

After an insanely loaded MLK Day schedule, the NBA cools down considerably on Tuesday night, with just four games on the schedule. We do get mega stars like Anthony Davis, Paul George, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, but tonight’s schedule lacks any marquee matchups and at first glance might even look a little predictable.

That can at times make picking these NBA games harder than you think, as anytime you look at a matchup and feel you know “for sure” who the winner will be, you can fall into a trap. Let’s take a closer look at all four games and see which way we’re leaning for NBA betting tonight:

Milwaukee Bucks @ Miami Heat

The Bucks head to South Beach tonight in search for their third straight victory, as they try to climb out of the cellar of the East’s Central Division. The Bucks have been without head coach Jason Kidd for the past week, yet have remained fairly competitive and have been getting strong production out of Greg Monroe, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo. That recent success parlaying into a win at Miami isn’t a lock, but with the Heat being without Goran Dragic, the Bucks certainly have a chance. The big thing working in Miami’s favor is they’re at home and they defend. Considering they’re 15-8 at home and still have Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Hassan White to hang their hate on, they should pull this one out at home.

Pick: Heat 96, Bucks 94

Minnesota Timberwolves @ New Orleans Pelicans

Tyreke Evans is questionable tonight as the Pelicans try to hold down the fort at home against a bad Timberwolves squad. Both teams can pour in the offense at times and neither defend, but New Orleans has played their best ball at home this year (8-9), while the Timberwolves have been awful on the road (7-12). Minnesota continues to look the part of a young and inexperienced team, too, while they’ve lost nine of their last 10. With Anthony Davis healthy and active, tonight looks like a pretty good night to go all in on the Pellies.

Pick: Pelicans 108, Timberwolves 102

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Denver Nuggets

OKC is projected to put up the most points tonight, which makes plenty of sense considering they’re healthy, put up almost 109 points per game already and take on a terrible defensive team in the Nuggets. Denver certainly does stink on defense, while they’ll also be without veteran point guard Jameer Nelson. That puts a ton of pressure on turnover-prone rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay. This one could be over rather quickly.

Pick: Thunder 111, Nuggets 97

Indiana Pacers @ Phoenix Suns

The Suns remain a very tough team to bet on, even when at home, as they’ve been stripped down by injuries and often carry a hefty bag of “quit” with them. Indiana isn’t a good team to quit against, as Paul George can be a total stud on any given night and the Pacers remain a tough out. This is a great spot for Indy, too, who have dropped three in a row can could use a big road win to pick themselves up. This looks like a fast-paced matchup on paper and if George Hill (personal) sits, Indy could lose some defensive bite. I still like them to win a shootout, but not having Hill or Rodney Stuckey (foot) could keep them from running away completely in this one.

Pick: Pacers 107, Suns 103