The NBA took a break on Thursday night (zero games) and returned with a light Christmas Day slate (five games). On Saturday night we’re being bombarded with a total pro basketball barrage to make up for the last two days.

That’s fine with us, as it makes for more exciting basketball action and more NBA betting. Before you finalize any bets for tonight’s action, though, be sure to run through today’s schedule to see which way we’re leaning:

Raptors @ Bucks

Milwaukee has been touch and go all year but it’s worth noting they’ve been getting killer minutes out of Michael Carter-Williams. The Bucks still have inconsistent defense and head coach Jason Kidd (back) isn’t with the team. Toronto has kept it together (6-4) over their last 10 games and even gets defensive ace DeMarre Carroll back tonight. They’re just 9-7 on the road, but they’re getting healthy and are the better team.

Pick: Raptors 102, Bucks 98

Heat @ Magic

Miami got a nice OT win last night over the Pelicans, but now take it to the road, where they’re just 4-5 on the season. Orlando has surprisingly been quite strong on the year and is specifically a problem at home (10-5). These teams both like to play defense and are pretty evenly matched, but I’m favoring the home team tonight.

Pick: Magic 101, Heat 99

Knicks @ Hawks

Carmelo Anthony should be back after sitting out the last game, and the Knicks will need him in top form to take down the Hawks in Atlanta. New York is starting to slip with two straight losses and just a 4-6 run in their last 10 contests. Atlanta, on the other hand, has won five in a row and is a solid 11-6 on their home floor this year.

Pick: Hawks 107, Knicks 101

Bulls @ Mavericks

Chicago should be a little tired after getting an impressive win at OKC last night, but that may not matter with the Mavs potentially down both Deron Williams and Devin Harris. Chicago has been very up and down this year, but so have the Mavs. Given how good the Bulls looked last night, I’ll take them tonight, even on the road.

Pick: Bulls 104, Mavs 102

Clippers @ Jazz

Los Angeles is extremely average on the road this year (7-7), but unlike the Jazz can actually score the ball and are healthy. Utah has slipped a bit without big man Rudy Gobert, and could even be without Derrick Favors tonight.

Pick: Clippers 101, Jazz 97

Cavaliers @ Blazers

Cleveland is going to be a bit worn down after losing to the Warriors on the road last night, while they’ll also be without Kyrie Irving (rest). That shouldn’t keep them from taking down the Blazers, however, as Portland has lost five straight and will be without Damian Lillard.

Pick: Cavs 105, Blazers 96

Rockets @ Pelicans

Houston got a huge home win over the Spurs last night, so they could be vulnerable for a letdown on the road. Anthony Davis is fresh off of a huge game, while the Pelicans have done most of their damage (6-6) at home this year.

Pick: Pelicans 106, Rockets 104

Grizzlies @ Hornets

Charlotte has begun to see a sharp slide (three straight losses), but luckily they get a pretty pedestrian Memphis squad at home. Normally the Grizzlies could be a team to fear, but their defense hasn’t been as good as normal and Charlotte is quite tough on their home turf (11-5 at home).

Pick: Hornets 102, Grizzlies 99

Celtics @ Pistons

This game is all about tempo control, as Detroit is fantastic at controlling pace and playing defense, while the Celtics can push the pace and put up a lot of points. Of the two, Boston still has the better balance of defending and scoring, but I’m not sure they can handle Andre Drummond down low. Detroit also hosts tonight and they’re a staggering 10-4 at home.

Pick: Pistons 97, Celtics 95

Pacers @ Timberwolves

Paul George aims to get out of a mild funk tonight, and that feels likely against a Timberwolves team he torched last time out. Minnesota is a bit better than given credit for, but they seem to be worse on their home floor (4-11) for some reason.

Pick: Pacers 107, T’Wolves 104

Nuggets @ Spurs

Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are out tonight, but the Nuggets are down some healthy bodies of their own. San Antonio should get a nice bounce back win after losing on the road road to the Rockets. Their unblemished 16-0 home record demands it.

Pick: Spurs 108, Nuggets 97

76ers @ Suns

This won’t be the highest-scoring game of the night, but it very well could be the most fast-paced. Ish Smith could debut with his old/new team against another one of his former teams, so this game has some appeal. Phoenix is easily the better team and they’re at home, though, so it’d be tough to buy the Sixers stumbling into their second win of the year.

Pick: Suns 111, Sixers 106

On a Monday where numerous NFL squads learned of some pretty big injuries, the Arizona Cardinals may be working their way through the hardest hit. Per reports, stud defensive back Tyrann Mathieu will be lost for the remainder of the year due to a torn ACL. Mathieu suffered the injury in the Cards’ week 15 win over the Philadelphia Eagles and was said to have a “loose” knee after exiting the game.

Arizona learned soon on Monday after an MRI that their star defensive back had sustained his second career ACL tear and that he’d be out for the rest of the year. Mathieu had gone through the lengthy rehab process two years ago, but wasn’t quite the same player on his way back from the injury in 2014. It wasn’t until the 2015 season that he flashed signs of his rookie form and had quickly become a dominant defensive force again. Unfortunately he’ll have to go back to work this summer and try to work his way all the way back to being that same player again.

Arians: Mathieu has a torn ACL. Out for the season.

— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) December 21, 2015

It’s a huge blow for the Cardinals both for the short and long-term. The only true silver lining is that Mathieu is just 23 years old and has gone through the rehab process before. He knows he can make it back to this elite level of play and if the Cardinals just give him the time he needs, he could still be a huge piece of their defense’s puzzle for years to come.

Super Bowl Snag

It’s 2015 that Arizona has to worry about, as Mathieu was a huge part of their defense and is now going to leave a massive hole in the secondary. Mathieu was especially adept at breaking up passes over the middle of the field and was also a fantastic ball hawk (five interceptions) and power hitter. Needless to say, challenging the Cardinals deep down the field wasn’t always easy with him manning the back of the defense at safety, while his coverage of slots receivers also made it hard to move the ball in the middle of the field. Arizona may now lean on 25-year old corner Justin Bethel in the slot.

Bethel could end up being fine in the slot, the Arizona’s defense takes a huge hit in the secondary, both in terms of talent and in confidence. One injury shouldn’t completely crush their playoff hopes, but Mathieu was arguably the heart and soul of their defense. More pressure will be on Carson Palmer and the offense to win games going forward.

Around the League

Mathieu was probably the biggest injury in the NFL in terms of overall impact, but he wasn’t exactly the biggest name to get knocked out for the year. Star rookie players Marcus Mariota and Melvin Gordon both had their seasons ended with knee injuries, while the Bills also lost star rusher LeSean McCoy to a knee sprain. Minnesota saw Adrian Peterson get a little banged up, too, but he should be fine come week 16.

Two star players won’t be around for week 16, though, as Odell Beckham Jr. has been suspended for one week due to on field disruptions, while Colts quarterback Andrew Luck still won’t be ready to return from a lacerated kidney. Be sure to stay on top of the latest NFL injury and status news if you’re planning on making any bets for the playoffs or Super Bowl. Naturally, the Mathieu news has Arizona’s odds taking a minor hit, while the Titans, Bills, Chargers and Giants all see their week 16 odds of winning sink a bit due to the latest news.

After an extremely busy Wednesday night (12 games!) the NBA cools things down quite a bit with just three pro basketball contests on Thursday night. It’s just gearing us all up for a loaded weekend, but we don’t mind the break. The light schedule should allow us to focus on the games a little better than usual, which should help us feel extra comfortable about laying some money down.

Let’s break down all three games slated for Thursday night and see who should come away with the win:

Toronto Raptors @ Charlotte Hornets

Toronto heads to Charlotte to take on a very depleted Hornets team tonight. Already down Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Al Jefferson, Charlotte will also be without swing man Nicolas Batum tonight (illness). That should sap Charlotte’s scoring quite a bit and put extra emphasis on their defense. Toronto has some issues of their own with Jonas Valanciunas and DeMarre Carroll out, but as they stand appear better prepared to withstand the hits in this showdown. The Hornets are a pretty stout 10-4 on their home floor, but the injuries should take a toll tonight.

Pick: Raptors 104, Hornets 98

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Cleveland Cavaliers

This is a massive superstar showdown, as Kevin Durant and LeBron James go head to head tonight. James and the Cavs have to hold the early edge with this one being at Quicken Loans Arena, especially since Cleveland has lost at home once all year and is kind of hot with three wins in a row. Cleveland hasn’t fared all that well against the top flight teams, though, and the Thunder certainly qualify when it comes to star power. OKC is even hotter right now with four consecutive wins and an 8-2 record in their last 10 games, but they’re not really bringing their A game on the road so far (5-5 away from home). OKC could easily take this, but I have to side with the Cavs at home.

Pick: Cavs 101, Thunder 99

Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers

Dwight Howard returns to L.A. tonight as the Rockets and Lakers square off for the second time in the past week. Houston destroyed the Lakers in Houston just a couple of days ago, but it’s safe to bank on this one being a little closer with the Lakers at home. Houston also has played down to their opponent’s level quite a bit this year, while they’re currently riding a two game skid. I think the Rockets get back on track with a nice road win, but I also feel like the Lakers will hang in this one.

Pick: Rockets 111, Lakers 107

There goes the winning streak. The Golden State Warriors finally lost, but their first loss of the 2015-16 NBA season came by the hands of the…Milwaukee Bucks? Yep, the Bucks played flawless offense and did just enough on defense to hand the Warriors their first loss and rob them of the chance to be the first NBA team ever to go 7-0 on a seven game road trip. Also, you know, the whole 25-0 thing.

Golden State gets a break to consider a brand new streak, but we still have four new NBA contests to ponder about for Sunday. The action gets started early at 3:30 pm ET, so let’s dive in and see which we we’ll want to be leaning with our NBA picks:

Timberwolves @ Suns

The Timberwolves head to the desert to take on the Suns in what is without a doubt going to be Sunday’s fastest paced NBA contest. These teams are pretty evenly matched, as both sides put up over 102 points per game and offer little resistance on defense. That could change for the Suns if Tyson Chandler is back to mix things up in the paint. With him possibly returning and this one in Phoenix, I’ll give the Suns the mild edge. If you’re going to shoot for the Total in any game tonight, this is the one.

Pick: Suns 106, Timberwolves 104

Grizzlies @ Heat

From the fastest, we go to the slowest, as the Grizzlies and Heat square off in South Beach with both teams trying to lull us to sleep. Both of these teams play very slow and rely on defense, so we’re in for a low-scoring game unless one of them can get hot. Miami is an ugly slide (three straight losses) and this is a tough matchup, but they’re 10-4 at home. I think they get back on track with a win tonight.

Pick: Heat 91, Grizz 87

76ers @ Raptors

This game could be fast-paced just because Philly is so bad they don’t have a choice but to get out and run. Their offense is still atrocious, though, and they own just one win on the year. I probably wouldn’t give them much of a chance on their own court, but in Toronto a blowout is likely.

Pick: Raptors 105, Sixers 92

Jazz @ Thunder

The Thunder and Jazz go head to head for the third time in the past two weeks and in the past two meetings we’ve seen OKC is clearly the better team. Utah is missing it’s defensive edge with big man Rudy Gobert down with a knee injury, so they’re once again going to find it difficult to hang with Kevin Durant and company. OKC should get the win at home to go up 3-0 in the season series.

Pick: Thunder 105, Jazz 99

A fully loaded NBA slate did not want for entertainment on Friday night, as the Warriors needed double overtime to stay undefeated and we got another fun overtime thriller between the Nuggets and Timberwolves. It was a jam-packed night of pro basketball and while Saturday cools off some, we still have a whopping nine games on the docket. Let’s pour through the matchups and see which way you may want to be leaning with your NBA bets tonight:

Clippers @ Nets

The Clippers haven’t looked like themselves for much of the year, but they’re at least trending in the right direction with 7 wins in their last 10 games. Chris Paul and J.J. Redick are both close to 100% and have been back for the past two games, so some continuity should do the Clips some good. So should taking on a bad Nets team. Brooklyn has six of their seven wins at home this year so they can play well in front of their home crowd, but this just isn’t a favorable matchup for them.

Pick: Clippers 107, Nets 102

Celtics @ Hornets

Charlotte is a very strong home team and the Celtics have to be letdown and dead tired after losing to Golden State in 2OT last night. The Hornets should come out with a little more energy and play well in front of their home crowd.

Pick: Hornets 104, Celtics 98

Pacers @ Pistons

Paul George has been an unstoppable force this year and has been especially hot over the last couple of weeks. He’ll look to continue that trend in Detroit, where the 13-11 Pistons await. Detroit has been solid in their last 10 games (6-4), both both teams can defend and Indiana has the much more explosive offense. I like the Pacers by a hair.

Pick: Pacers 104, Pistons 102

Spurs @ Hawks

San Antonio was able to rest some of their guys last night and play others light minutes, so they should all be ready to rock against the Hawks in Atlanta tonight. The Hawks are still a very solid team, but it’s been clear the loss of DeMarre Carroll has sapped them on both ends of the court. They can contend with the Spurs, but I expect San Antonio to get back on track after losing two games ago.

Pick: Spurs 109, Hawks 106

Pelicans @ Bulls

New Orleans is getting healthy at just the right time and could end up making a playoff push if everything breaks right, but there isn’t enough there to start backing them yet. The Bulls, meanwhile, are playing some of their best defense in years and are still trying to figure out their rotations. Chicago is also a blistering 8-3 at the United Center this year, so I don’t see them losing tonight.

Pick: Bulls 101, Pelicans 97

Lakers @ Rockets

Los Angeles is absolutely dreadful and as long as Kobe Bryant remains a focal point of their offense, they may only win about once every two weeks. It’s astonishing how they’ve been run. Houston isn’t very good but they have turned things around with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. They’re also at home and infinitely better than the Lakers.

Pick: Rockets 108, Lakers 101

Wizards @ Mavericks

John Wall is playing at an insanely high level right now, yet the Wizards still aren’t winning consistently because of two huge reasons: no depth and no defense. Brad Beal is banged up, too, so now they’re going to be even more under-manned if he can’t go tonight. On the road against a solid Mavs team that beat them in D.C. just six days ago, I don’t love the Wiz’s chances.

Pick: Mavs 109, Wiz 105

Warriors @ Bucks

To beat the Warriors you probably need one (or all) of three things to happen: play great defense, score a ton of points and have them not be hitting shots. It’s possible the latter could happen with both Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson potentially out and the Warriors fresh off a 2OT win last night. But they’re still the Warriors and they’ll probably come out, guns blazing. Also, the Bucks don’t have a great offense and the top shelf defense we saw last year hasn’t been there consistently this season. Milwaukee’s main advantage is they’re at home, but I don’t think that will be enough to hand the Warriors their first loss of the year.

Pick: Warriors 107, Bucks 101

Knicks @ Blazers

New York and Portland cap an entertaining night as the Knicks try to snap a four-game losing streak. This game is all about tempo and who can enforce their will. I think being at home with superior guard play, that should be the Blazers.

Pick: Blazers 105, Knicks 101

After a very busy Wednesday night, the NBA cools down a bit on Thursday with a light four-game slate. It’s not an NBA bettor’s dream, but we still get two matchups between playoff contenders and both New York teams are in action. What’s more to want?

On the surface this looks like a pretty easy slate to call, but if you’re having a little trouble with your NBA bets, join us as we walk through each matchup and make our picks:

76ers @ Nets

Brooklyn is a pretty bad team, so if the Sixers are going to win again anytime soon, this could be the night. Philly has one win on the year but is getting healthy with Tony Wroten back and rookie center Jahlil Okafor is also back after a brief suspension. While this could be a close one, I still lean in favor of the Nets just because they’re actually not bad (5-4) at Barclays Center this year.

Pick: Nets 99, Sixers 96

Clippers @ Bulls

Easily one of the better games of the night has the Clippers heading to the United Center to take on the Bulls. Chicago has been quite strong at home this year (7-3), but the Clips are finally healthy again with Chris Paul and J.J. Redick back. They feel like they’re hitting they’re stride with three wins in a row, too.

Pick: Clippers 107, Bulls 104

Hawks @ Thunder

The other good game on the schedule has the Hawks traveling to OKC to battle Kevin Durant and the Thunder. KD and Russell Westbrook are a formidable duo, but the Thunder are just 13-8 to start the year. They’re a tad underwhelming, but Durant has also missed some time during OKC’s slow start. Tonight they’re at home, where they’re a very strong 9-3 on the year. Last year’s Hawks team could have been a real threat, but this year both the offense and defense have dipped just slightly. I still like this to be a competitive game, but the Thunder should pull it out in a close one.

Pick: Thunder 104, Hawks 101

Knicks @ Kings

Two very different teams go head to head in Sacramento tonight, as the Knicks prefer to slow things down and play defense, while the Kings run a fast-paced offense and play almost no defense. A healthy DeMarcus Cousins has them looking better, however, while the Knicks have faltered with three straight defeats. With Carmelo Anthony seemingly not quite himself at the moment, it’s hard not to side with the Kings.

Pick: Kings 102, Knicks 98

Pro basketball hits Wednesday night hard, as 20 teams come out to play. The 10 games surprisingly lack the front-loaded star power that Tuesday night, but there are still plenty of star players and a litany of solid matchups worth tuning in to watch. As always, there’s games worth betting on, too.

Let’s break down all 10 games and see which way you may want to lean in our Wednesday night NBA picks:

Bulls @ Celtics

Chicago takes it to the road for an early game against the Celtics, who will be without defensive ace, Marcus Smart. Smart’s absence hurts Boston’s chances of shutting down the Bulls, so their best bet may be running per usual and seeing if they can’t out-score Chicago. That’s certainly possible given Chicago’s mediocre 4-4 record on the road, but they have the talent edge in this one. I expect Pau Gasol to wreck, while Derrick Rose over powers the smaller Isaiah Thomas.

Pick: Bulls 102, Celtics 100

Rockets @ Wizards

James Harden and Dwight Howard were both weak last night in a loss to the lowly Nets, so they’ll both have to be at their best tonight when the Rockets try to win in D.C. The Wiz should be at near full strength with Marcin Gortat back, while John Wall is playing some fantastic ball in December. Neither team plays defense and both like to run, so we’ll give the Wiz the mild edge on their home floor.

Pick: Wiz 106, Rockets 104

Heat @ Hornets

The Hornets keep on winning even without Al Jefferson in the lineup and they’ll host the Heat tonight in a battle of paces. Miami likes to slow things down and defend, while the Hornets are putting up over 102 points per game after being mostly a defensive-minded team in year’s past. In a game basically for the Southeast division lead, though, we think the more talented Heat will be on top of their game.

Pick: Heat 97, Hornets 94

Grizzlies @ Pistons

Memphis looked awful in a loss last night and also comes in nicked up with Marc Gasol and others battling injuries. They could come in severely depleted (not to mention tired) so the home team Pistons look like the call.

Pick: Pistons 99, Grizz 97

Spurs @ Raptors

The Spurs have a stiff test tonight in Toronto, but it’s going to be awfully difficult to pick against them thanks to an 18-4 start. Toronto is also without DeMarre Carroll and won’t have the same defensive bite they normally would. The Spurs are usually good for vulnerability on the road, but they’ve won four straight and are the much better team on paper.

Pick: Spurs 102, Raptors 96

Clippers @ Bucks

Milwaukee has turned things around with solid defense lately, as they’ve won two in a row. They’re still at the bottom of their division, however, and may need a big home win against the Clips tonight to prove they can be a more consistent bunch. The matchup just doesn’t work in their favor, unfortunately, as Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan should feast down low.

Pick: Clippers 104, Bucks 97

Lakers @ Timberwolves

The Lakers shoot for their fourth on the year during the Kobe Tour, but that won’t come easy on the road against a surprisingly sold Minnesota team. The Lakers continue to put Kobe Bryant’s vanity above winning, so improving on their atrocious 2-12 road mark isn’t likely. A healthy Ricky Rubio aids Minnesota’s cause, too.

Pick: Wolves 107, Lakers 103

Magic @ Suns

Probably shooting for the highest Total of the night, the Magic and Suns square off in what should be a very entertaining game. The Magic have come on strong in December and are winners of 7 of their last 10. They’re just 5-6 on the road, however, as Phoenix plays host. That being said, both teams can fill it up offensively, but of the two only Orlando actually defends.

Pick: Magic 106, Suns 101

Knicks @ Jazz

Both the Knicks and Jazz are banged up, as Rudy Gobert continues to miss time and Carmelo Anthony still may not be himself. That makes picking this game fairly difficult, as Utah can be a stud defensive squad but at the moment may be tough to trust. Still, they’re a defensive-minded team at home against a Knicks offense that simply struggles to put the ball in the basket consistently.

Pick: Jazz 97, Knicks 92

Hawks @ Mavericks

This might be the best game of the night and perhaps the NBA knew that, as they save it for last. The Mavs are getting very close to full health and should have J.J. Barea back tonight, while the Hawks should have all of their players, as well. Fans could be in for a bit of a shootout, as both of these teams put up over 101 points per game. Atlanta is probably the better team on the surface, but winning in Dallas won’t be easy.

Pick: Mavs 105, Hawks 102

If you’re still calming down from that insane Thursday Night Football ending between the Packers and Lions, we don’t blame you. But you’re in for a roller coaster of sorts, as the NBA shoves six fun games onto the schedule and gets the sports bettor in you ready for more intense action.

Fans get a battle of New York, The Brow vs. LeBron, Greg Monroe revenge and as fast-paced of a matchup as we can hope for when the Wizards and Suns go at it. Kobe Bryant also is probably playing in Atlanta, but we can never be sure if that’s a perk or a deterrent. If it’s The Black Mamba of Wednesday, tonight could go off the rails.

Let’s keep the train on the tracks just long enough to break down all six games and see which way you may want to lean if you plan on betting tonight:

Nets @ Knicks

Brooklyn has been all kinds of awful this year and are especially atrocious on the road (1-10), but they do still have a stud center in Brook Lopez and have slowly turned things around with a 4-6 run in their last 10 games. That’s about as optimistic as it gets here, unfortunately, as New York is the better team in just about every way and has a rapidly progressing Kristaps Porzingis to show for it. Carmelo Anthony should be over a recent sickness, too, so the Knicks should be close to their best in a favorable matchup at Madison Square Garden. Their 4-6 home record this year is cause for pause, but not so much against the lowly Nets.

Pick: Knicks 102, Nets 97

Suns @ Wizards

In what is probably going to be the most entertaining game of the night, two of the fasted-paced teams get together in Washington. Even better, both teams are incredibly short-handed down low with Marcin Gortat, Markieff Morris, Tyson Chandler, Drew Gooden and Kris Humphries all likely out tonight. That means a good amount of small ball and a ton of running and shooting. A high scoring affair is to be expected, while the Wiz could have the mild edge at home. Neither team defends, but Phoenix is pretty bad on the road this year and John Wall is really cooking with gas lately. I expect Wall to be huge as he gets the Wiz one game closer to .500.

Pick: Wizards 109, Suns 107

Bucks @ Pistons

Greg Monroe returns to Detroit to take on the Pistons for the first time since leaving in free agency this summer. These two have faced off once already this year (Bucks won big in Milwaukee), but this is Moose’s first game back in Detroit. He should have a big game, while Ersan Ilyasova and Khris Middleton both could be in for solid nights against their former teams, as well. Milwaukee got the better of the Pistons the first time, but now they’re on the road, where they’re just 2-8 on the season. Detroit has more size and shooting and also plays better defense, too, so they’re the logical pick.

Pick: Pistons 104, Bucks 99

Lakers @ Hawks

The Kobe Bryant retirement show rages on and this time the Lakers head to Atlanta to try to take down the Hawks. That’s not logical for several reasons, even with the Hawks playing basically .500 basketball these days. For one, Bryant just had his first great game of the year, so it’s rather unlikely to drops a second strong effort in back to back games. Los Angeles also has just three wins on the year and has to try to go into Atlanta to get their fourth. That’s not very likely considering the Lakers are a pathetic 2-9 away from home and the Hawks are a solid 7-4 on their home floor. Atlanta could end up resting some of their key players but they should find a way to get the win, regardless.

Pick: Hawks 109, Lakers 101

Rockets @ Mavs

James Harden heads to Dallas to try to torch the Mavs in what could be the second-highest scoring game of the night. Harden wasn’t amazing against Dallas earlier this year in a 12-point loss at home, but he usually torches them pretty well. Dallas is a strong 5-2 on their home floor and currently looks like the better team, while Houston is going to be a little short-handed with Dwight Howard out (rest). Houston isn’t defending or even scoring all that well these days, so the odds support a Mavs home win.

Pick: Mavs 106, Rockets 102

Cavs @ Pelicans

While some other games could carry a little more weight or could produce more points, a showdown between LeBron James and The Brow on ESPN probably takes the cake. Everyone will want a hand in this game when it comes to NBA betting, and the only question is who actually takes it? Knee-jerk logic says the Cavs are the pick, as the Pellies have been awful to start the year and are oddly just 3-5 on their home floor. That being said, they’ve gotten healthy rather quickly, as Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans should both be available to play (and likely start) in this game. That could make New Orleans quite the offensive handful, while the Cavs haven’t been nearly as strong on the road this season (just 4-4).

The kicker for me here is defense. Cleveland defends leaps and bounds better than the Pellies, who on the year are allowing over 109 points per game. I’m not entirely sure Anthony Davis can do as he pleases here, either, as Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao and Timofey Mozgov all have some size and length to team up to give him problems. I think we get some points out of this one still and it could be a good game, but look for Cleveland to start figuring out their road woes with a big win tonight.

Pick: Cavs 107, Pelicans 103

We’ve been away for a few days but we return on Thursday night, where six NBA games await us. If you need an extra shove in the right direction when it comes to NBA betting, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s break down each game schedule for Thursday night and see who should come out on top:

Thunder @ Heat

OKC is one of the fastest teams in the league, so something may have to break when they head to South Beach, where the Heat prefer to control games with a slow and steady approach. It’s worked out pretty well at home, as Miami is a strong 8-3 on their home floor and have positive momentum with seven wins in their last 10 contests. The Thunder have been struggling with continuity with Kevin Durant in and out of the lineup, but he’s back and looks as good as ever. OKC is a little suspect on the road, but they’re the better team and eventually that needs to be more obvious. This could be a statement road win to get them launched into a productive December.

Pick: Thunder 101, Heat 97

Nuggets @ Raptors

Toronto has been extremely up and down all year, as they started hot at 5-0 and have endured some rough losing streaks. They’ve still won 7 of their last 10, though, and are a solid 4-2 on their home floor. Denver is an inferior opponent in all regards, too, as the Nuggets enter with a shaky offense and a porous defense. The biggest key is Emmanuel Mudiay against Kyle Lowry. Lowry should have a field day in a blowout win at home.

Pick: Raptors 106, Nuggets 92

Magic @ Jazz

Orlando has been ultra competitive all year and has quietly stormed over the .500 wall with four consecutive wins. Unfortunately they’ve done most of their work at home and are just 3-5 on the road. Normally that’d be cause for alarm, but they took down the Jazz earlier this year in Orlando and Utah will be without star center Rudy Gobert (knee) tonight. Utah could still get it done at home but their defense will take a serious hit.

Pick: Magic 101, Jazz 97

Spurs @ Grizzlies

The Spurs are chalk at home (10-0) but on the road they are more than vulnerable (5-4). Going into Memphis and getting a win certainly won’t be easy, although it’s worth noting the Grizzlies haven’t been quite as dominant on the defensive end as in past years (allowing almost 100 points per game). Still, Memphis has really turned it on with 8 wins in their last 10 games and are a solid 6-3 on their home floor. Everyone knows this is a total toss-up, but the advantage does appear to be in Memphis’ favor.

Pick: Grizzlies 96, Spurs 94

Pacers @ Blazers

Paul George is red hot right now and so are the Pacers, who have won six straight and stand in at a very strong 12-5. Indiana focused on increasing their tempo going into the year and they’re now putting up over 101 points per game. They even still play decent defense, while their only real weakness is a lack of prowess down low. They head to Portland tonight and given their 6-3 record on the road and the Blazers’ inability to defend, it’s unlikely Indy’s winning streak ends here.

Pick: Pacers 104, Blazers 101

Celtics @ Kings

This will surely be the funnest game of the night, as it has the highest Total (215) by far and could actually hit it. Sacramento pours it on thick offensively thanks to a turn around year for Rajon Rondo and the deadly duo of DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay. It’s defense the Kings can’t stomach, as they’re giving up over 108 points per contest. Boston is pretty much the opposite, as they tend to stifle opponents with stingy defense and are just a decent offensive team. This matchup makes the Celtics a strong offensive unit, though, while the absence of lockdown defender Marcus Smart gives their defense a substantial hit.

The big story-line here, and possibly of the night, will be the point guard play. Rajon Rondo faces off against the team that drafted him and helped make him a star, and the same goes for Isaiah Thomas in Boston. It wouldn’t be shocking to see a high-scoring, back and forth battle with these two lead guards inflicting a good amount of the damage. That type of game favors Sacramento, who are progressing over their last 10 (5-5).

Pick: Kings 107, Celtics 105

The Cleveland Browns have a new starting quarterback for the third week in a row. Thanks to a Josh McCown collarbone injury and Johnny Manziel’s poor decision-making off the field, former St. Louis Rams quarterback Austin Davis has been given the nod as Cleveland’s starting passer for their week 13 showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Johnny Bench

Head coach Mike Pettine said that Davis filled in admirably in a week 12 loss that saw McCown exit due to injury, and had “earned” the right to start this week. The news comes just over a week after Browns fans learned the team would demote Manziel, who had been handed the starting gig for the rest of the year prior to the team’s bye week.

It was apparently conditional. After a long discussion with coaches before leaving for the break, Manziel vowed not to “embarrass” or be a “distraction” while on vacation. Just days later he showed up in a video showing him partying at a club with alcohol in hand. Due to Manziel’s deceit and already spending time in a rehab facility following last season, the Browns cited “betrayal” and a lack of trust to start moving in another direction.

Pettine remained firm on the stance that Manziel’s benching wasn’t necessarily a “dead end”, but potentially more of a road block. Pettine did suggest, however, that Manziel’s future as the Browns’ starting quarterback would likely hinge to his behavior off the field.

Passing on Johnny

Many felt that with McCown going down and Manziel being punished with his demotion last week, the team would give him another chance and re-name him the starter ahead of their date with the division rival Bengals. That isn’t the case, as the more experienced Davis will be under center this Sunday.

The move is cause for uproar for Manziel fans, but Pettine has always been adamant about putting the quarterback on the field that gives Cleveland the best chance to win. Davis arguably does that, even if winning may not be the greatest priority for a 2-9 team that can’t make the playoffs.

With that being the case, many wonder why the Browns won’t just go back to Manziel to see if they have a franchise passer in him. Perhaps they will down the stretch. But at least for now, the Browns don’t think Manziel has learned his lesson and will opt for Davis instead.

Betting Impact

The funny thing is going with Austin Davis probably gives the Browns a better chance to pull off the upset. Cincy has been vulnerable lately with a couple near-losses and two actual losses. The Bengals have owned Manziel so far in his career, so perhaps throwing him out there would be a mistake, anyways. Davis isn’t a star, but he looked good on Monday night and did enough to get Cleveland a win. I still think the Bengals win, but Davis could help keep it close and get the Browns to beat the spread.

Manziel’s Future

The big question lingering with this move is, are the Browns just punishing/testing their young quarterback, or are they simply done with him? Many are connecting the dots that the Browns won’t start him again as long as they can help it and have already moved on. If so, the next question becomes where Manziel goes following the 2015 season. Manziel has been connected to the Dallas Cowboys in trade rumors since before he was even drafted, so that could be a logical destination. For now, Manziel and Browns fans can only wait. Manziel will still serve as the direct backup to Davis and if Davis gets hurt or struggles, it’s still possible we see Johnny Football on the field in 2015.