The Jazz couldn’t beat a Victor Oladipo-less Magic team, Rajon Rondo triple doubled yet again, the Rockets dropped to 0-2 to the Nuggets and the Bulls got their revenge on the Hornets. Friday was a jam-packed, 11-game night of action to close out the regular work week, and we couldn’t have enjoyed it more.

NBA action gets started extra early on Saturday, as the Pistons and Clippers duke it out at 3:30 pm ET, followed by six more games. Let’s break each down and see which side you may want to be leaning toward for NBA betting purposes:

Pistons @ Clippers

Detroit is a pretty good team and it’s hard to see them drop a third game in a row, but L.A. has to be fairly lived over Blake getting tossed and getting beat by the Suns the other night. I expect them to come out fired up at home, while Chris Paul’s likely return from a groin issue should push them over the top.

Pick: Clips 109, Pistons 104

Magic @ Wizards

Victor Oladipo remains out but Orlando does have big man Nikola Vucevic to lean on when the Magic visit the Wizards in D.C. tonight. This remains a matchup very much in favor of the Wiz, but it is definitely worth noting that Brad Beal is doubtful to play again tonight. Washington is on a bad three-game skid, but even without Beal I think they work their way back up the ladder tonight.

Pick: Wiz 104, Magic 101

Cavs @ Bucks

Cleveland typically owns Milwaukee in the LeBron James era (3-1 last year) and the Cavs have won eight in a row. The Bucks could have point guard Michael Carter-Williams back tonight and they’re on their home floor, but I doubt it matters.

Pick: Cavs 106, Bucks 102

Mavs @ Rockets

Dwight Howard is sitting due to rest tonight, so the Rockets are a little under-manned against a Mavs team that has won two in a row. This is a perfect game for vintage James Harden, though, and Houston just got careless and lost to the Nuggets last night. Look for a Harden eruption in a big home win.

Pick: Rockets 111, Mavs 107

76ers @ Spurs

Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili are both out tonight but it’s the Spurs at home versus the Sixers. San Antonio is off to a nice start this year and they’ll just lean on Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge to get the win in this one.

Pick: Spurs 108, Sixers 97

Nuggets @ Suns

This could be the best game of the night due to up-tempo offensive play, but picking the winner could be tough. Phoenix does tend to play their best ball at home and guards Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight are coming off of huge games, so I’m leaning towards siding with the Suns. Keep in mind big man Markieff Morris could be out with a knee sprain, but I don’t think that will keep Phoenix from the win.

Pick: Suns 109, Nuggets 105

Nets @ Warriors

Brooklyn has one win on the year and they’re going to be the first team to march into Oracle Arena and hand the Warriors a loss? I think not. Golden State hasn’t lost all year and Stephen Curry cannot be stopped.

Pick: Warriors 116, Nets 104

Last night was one wild and crazy adventure. First the Jazz and Heat played to a tight finish in a game where Derrick Favors racked up 7 blocks. Then Stephen Curry dropped 46 points in an oddly competitive win over the Timberwolves.

But that wasn’t shocking enough. No, then Chris Paul randomly sat, DeAndre Jordan got a stinger, Markieff Morris left with a knee injury and Blake Griffin got tossed in a loss to the Suns.

Wild and crazy, indeed. It was a lot to take in for daily fantasy basketball gamers, and if you were betting on the Clippers last night, those various developments had to be quite annoying. Let’s hope it all worked out for you one way or another (hey, at least we got the Heat and Warriors picks right). Either way, let’s move past it and look to a bright Friday, where we’re graced with an awesome 11-game slate:

Jazz @ Magic

Utah just coughed up a loss on the road last night, so they’ll continue their road journey to Orlando where they face a Victor Oladipo-less Magic squad. The key here for me will be Rudy Gobert’s status. He sat out last night and is in doubt to play for the second night in a row. With Nikola Vucevic back, I think I’ll side with Orlando at home if Gobert is out.

Pick: Magic 99, Jazz 97

Cavs @ Knicks

New York has been visibly better this year than they were a year ago, but they lost their first meeting with the Cavs and Cleveland is now red hot with seven straight wins. The Knicks oddly have bad luck at home so far this year, too (1-3), so I’m going with LeBron James and the Cavs in this one.

Pick: Cavs 106, Knicks 100

Hornets @ Bulls

Charlotte crushed the Bulls in their prior meeting this year but this one is at the United Center, where the Bulls are a solid 3-1. Chicago won’t want to get blown out by the Hornets twice, so expect them to come out fired up.

Pick: Bulls 104, Hornets 99

Blazers @ Grizzlies

Portland somehow got past the Grizz in their last meeting, but now they’re in Memphis and will be without versatile big man, Meyers Leonard. Memphis has had a rough start to the season, but big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are slowly rounding into form. They need this one and I think they get it.

Pick: Grizz 104, Blazers 97

Timberwolves @ Pacers

Minnesota fought the Warriors hard last night, but showed they’re still just a young, inexperienced team that can’t yet win the big games. Now they have to turn around and go to Indiana to try to down the Pacers. Paul George has been on fire lately, so I don’t see that happening.

Pick: Pacers 107, Wolves 102

Hawks @ Celtics

The Celtics host Atlanta tonight and they could again be at less than full strength with shooting guard Avery Bradley on the mend. That takes away a top flight defender, which means Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague could do as they please tonight. Atlanta wins the war down low, too, while they’re a strong 8-1 since losing their season opener. Boston has their work cut out for them.

Pick: Hawks 109, Celtics 107

Pelicans @ Raptors

Anthony Davis is likely out again tonight as the Pelicans hunt for their second win on the road. Doing so against Toronto is especially difficult, as the Raptors are 6-3 and playing strong defense. They could also get a boost from the possible return of shutdown defender, DeMarre Carroll. With or without Carroll, the Raps are the favorite by a mile.

Pick: Raptors 106, Pellies 98

76ers @ Thunder

The Sixers head into OKC searching for their first win of the year tonight. Even with Kevin Durant sidelined with a hamstring issue, its unlikely to come against the Thunder. Look for Russell Westbrook to go nuts in a big home win tonight.

Pick: Thunder 111, Sixers 103

Lakers @ Mavs

Kobe Bryant is iffy for tonight but with or without him the Lakers are likely to struggle on the road against the Mavs. Chandler Parsons could see more run, Wesley Matthews is rounding into form and Dirk Nowitzki isn’t showing signs of decline just yet. Dallas is looking fairly solid, so it’s unlikely they drop a gimme game on their home floor.

Pick: Mavs 112, Lakers 106

Rockets @ Nuggets

Houston just lost an easy home game to the Nets, so they’ll want to bounce back with a big road win tonight. They already lost to the Nuggets and could be without Dwight Howard (rest), but I can’t see them going down 2-0 to an inferior team.

Pick: Rockets 105, Nuggets 101

Nets @ Kings

The Nets finally got their first win of the year on Wednesday, so they could be cooling down as they come into Sacramento to take on the Kings. DeMarcus Cousins returned two days ago to get the Kings their second win of the year and he seems determined to help turn things around. I like the Kings at home in a shootout.

Pick: Kings 106, Nets 104

Stephen Curry continued his dominance, the Magic needed heroics to beat the Lakers, the Knicks got hosed and the Mavs wouldn’t get run over by DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers. Those are just a few flashes of what was an awesome Wednesday night, jam-packed with emotion and entertainment via 11 NBA contests.

Thursday night has the league cooling down considerably, but elite squads like the Warriors and Clippers are still in action on a quieter three-game slate. Let’s break down each matchup and see who is worth betting on tonight:

Los Angeles Clippers @ Phoenix Suns

The Clippers will be performing on the second of a back-to-back, with both games coming on the road. They’re usually much better on their home floor, but after not playing their best ball on Wednesday night, I expect Lob City to come into the desert fired up. Eric Bledsoe should be up to take on his former team and Tyson Chandler gives the Clips a problem down low, but L.A. remains the more talented and battle tested team. The Suns have been solid so far during the 2015-16 NBA season, but they’re no match for a determined (albeit possibly tired) Clippers squad.

Pick: Clips 109, Suns 106

Utah Jazz @ Miami Heat

Rudy Gobert is iffy for tonight, which could be a huge key to this game for the Jazz. If he’s not in, things get a little dicey against Hassan Whiteside down low, while Miami’s guards would also have free reign inside the paint. Utah’s defense should give them a shot in any matchup and they’ve been impressive on the road, but he’s potential absence has us taking the Heat in South Beach.

Pick: Heat 99, Jazz 96

Golden State Warriors @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins were both late scratches recently, putting them both on alert going into this huge clash at home with the Warriors. Even with them in the Wolves are obviously over-matched. Stephen Curry has been red hot and the Warriors haven’t lost yet. Odds aren’t good that their first loss comes to Minnesota.

Pick: Warriors 112, T’Wolves 102

After a two day hiatus, we’re back to our daily NBA picks. What a day to return to the hardwood, too, with a ridiculous 11 NBA contests hitting the floor tonight. DeAndre Jordan returns to Dallas, LaMarcus Aldridge returns to Portland and Evan Turner faces the Pacers.

Okay, so no one cares about Turner vs. Indy, but hey. There’s plenty of drama on the docket tonight, not to mention plenty of opportunities to make some cash via NBA betting. Let’s hit up each game and see what side you’ll want to be betting on tonight:

Lakers @ Magic

Kobe Bryant is probably out again tonight and the defenses-less Lakers aren’t in a good spot on the road against a pretty talented Magic squad. Nikola Vucevic is likely out again, but Orlando fights too hard to drop a winnable game to a bad Lakers team.

Pick: Magic 104, Lakers 101

Knicks @ Hornets

I find it very hard to figure out the Knicks thus far, but going on the road and winning games is one thing they’ve found a way to do early on this year. Charlotte isn’t a world-beater, either, so I’ll give the slight edge to the Knicks of Carmelo Anthony can go off.

Pick: Knicks 101, Hornets 98

Clippers @ Mavs

DeAndre Jordan returns to Dallas to face the Mavs, but that’s less of a storyline than we think. The reality is the Clippers are the far better team and Blake Griffin will feast.

Pick: Clips 109, Mavs 103

Bucks @ Nuggets

Milwaukee has their groove back with three wins in their last four games, while they’re less likely to cave defensively right now between them and the Nuggets.

Pick: Bucks 107, Nuggets 104

Spurs @ Blazers

LaMarcus Aldridge returns home to take on his former Blazers, who probably lack the strength down low to handle him and Tim Duncan. San Antonio should rally behind Ridge, who could be big in a win.

Pick: Spurs 108, Blazers 104

Raptors @ 76ers

Toronto has lost three in a row and now they get a winless Philly squad. This is the perfect situation for them to end their losing skid. The Raptors, that is.

Pick: Raptors 107, Sixers 93

Pacers @ Celtics

Boston is at home and has won two in a row, while Marcus Smart could also return to the lineup. The Pacers are more appealing right now, though, as Paul George is simply on fire and looks like the superstar he was before injuring his leg a year ago.

Pick: Pacers 101, Celtics 97

Pelicans @ Hawks

The Pellies are underdogs here any way you look at it, but Anthony Davis being doubtful for this one hurts them even more.

Pick: Hawks 106, Pellies 102

Nets @ Rockets

Brooklyn hasn’t won yet this year and it’s extremely unlikely they put it all together on the road against James Harden and the Rockets.

Pick: Rockets 105, Nets 92

Warriors @ Grizzlies

Stephen Curry and co. hit the road in Memphis, where they’ll take on a Grizzlies team they beat by 50 points just a few games ago at Oracle Arena. Memphis has had a rough go of it early with 6 of their 8 games being on the road, but they just can’t hang with the undefeated Warriors.

Pick: Warriors 101, Grizz 97

Pistons @ Kings

Andre Drummond vs. DeMarcus Cousins is one heck of a battle to watch, while the Kings try to right the ship at 1-7 and Detroit continues to try to prove they’re legit at 5-2. It’s in Sacramento, so I’m giving Boogie the benefit of the doubt after holding a team meeting recently.

Pick: Kings 104, Pistons 100

Saturday was a wild night for NBA action, which is something we feel like we’re saying quite often. But hey, pro basketball is back and we’re excited about it, so even a dull three-game slate featuring the Jazz, Knicks and/or Grizzlies would have us staying up late.

That should be the case again on Sunday, although NBA action picks up right before the first slate of NFL games expire. It’s an all day event for basketball, with five game stretching from 3:30 pm ET to 9 at night. Let’s take a look at each game and see who you should be betting on tonight:

Pacers @ Cavs

Indiana lacks the size down low or consistency outside to take down the Cavs in Cleveland. The Cavs are oddly touch and go right now but they still haven’t lost since their opener. Riding a five-game winning streak, they’re not about to lose at home to the Pacers. Paul George vs. LeBron James will still be the highlight of the day.

Pick: Cavs 104, Pacers 97

Lakers @ Knicks

Such a historic matchup, yet really none of the intrigue. The Lakers just got their first win of the year and this could be The Black Mamba’s visit to MSG, but I’m feeling none of the nostalgia. The reality is L.A. stinks, New York is at home and they’re the ascending team of the two. Knicks should win, but I expect a bit of a shootout due to very little defense on either side.

Pick: Knicks 109, Lakers 105

Raptors @ Heat

Toronto showed in a loss to the Magic that they might have some issues on the road, but that was their first loss. It’s tough to go against them right now, as they’re the hotter team. There’s also little evidence that the Heat are better, as we’re still seeing the same inconsistency that plagued them last season.

Pick: Raptors 102, Heat 99

Suns @ Thunder

Phoenix has been decent in the early going of the 2015-16 NBA season, but OKC isn’t about to lose for the fourth time in a row. They’ve been losing to good teams and they’re definitely better than the Suns – plus they’re at home. The streak ends tonight.

Pick: Thunder 111, Suns 107

Pistons @ Blazers

It’s the battle of the pretenders, as these are two decent teams that no one has a clue about yet. Portland just beat the Grizzlies and is on top of their division at a solid 2-2, while the only team they’ve lost to is the Suns (twice), oddly. Detroit has some seriously big wins under it’s belt, too, while they’re a promising 4-1. Portland lacks size going up against Andre Drummond, but it’s not as wide of a gap as you’d think and Damian Lillard seems rather unstoppable at the moment. If it weren’t in Portland, my logic may be different but right now I’m feeling the Blazers.

Pick: Blazers 105, Pistons 102

The superstars of the NBA showed us why they’re the best on Saturday night, as James Harden, Anthony Davis and Stephen Curry all went completely nuts. Curry and Harden’s brief run of insanity led to wins, but The Brow’s efforts went unrewarded in a shootout loss to the visiting Hawks last night.

Davis and the Pelicans will be back at it again tonight on the second of a back-to-back, as they chase their first victory of the 2015-16 NBA season. There are plenty more storylines to track tonight as we gear up for another fun night of NBA betting, as we have a healthy nine-game slate to cover. We were just average on last night’s 10-game slate (5-5 last night, 50-34 on the year), but aim to do much better tonight:

Timberwolves @ Bulls

Minnesota has proven to be better this year than they were last year, specifically at the defensive end. A healthy Ricky Rubio hasn’t hurt, either, but slowing down the Bulls and actually winning in Chicago is asking a lot from a young team. Derrick Rose found his groove in his last game and the Bulls are 3-0 at the United Center so far this season. A T’Wolves road win isn’t likely.

Pick: Bulls 104, Wolves 99

Magic @ 76ers

Orlando should still be without center Nikola Vucevic when they head to Philly tonight, but that shouldn’t stop them from getting their second win in a row and third victory in three tries. The Magic have done an excellent job this year at simply competing and giving teams hard outs and they finally get an easy matchup. It’s on the road, but I can’t see Orlando blowing this one.

Pick: Magic 108, Sixers 102

Wizards @ Hawks

Washington and Atlanta have a nice rivalry as divisional foes and even faced in a heated playoff setting last year. But the Hawks have flat out owned this matchup when it comes to wins and losses, as they were 3-1 against the Wiz a year ago and have dropped one home game to Washington since 2008. The odds are not in Washington’s favor, even before you look at Atlanta’s hot six-game winning streak.

Pick: Hawks 109, Wizards 106

Nets @ Bucks

Milwaukee and Brooklyn tend to come together for a couple heated battles each year and just a week ago we got to see them square off. That ended in Milwaukee’s first win of the year and since then they haven’t lost. The Nets have to win eventually, but on the road against a hot team that seems to be figuring itself out doesn’t feel like the right spot.

Pick: Bucks 103, Nets 94

Hornets @ Spurs

Charlotte has been fairly competitive this season and have a nice two-game winning streak going, but going into San Antonio and taking down the Spurs is a tall order. San Antonio’s defense is trouble enough, but this is just their second home game of the year and it’s unlikely they’ll come in flat.

Pick: Spurs 104, Hornets 92

Pelicans @ Mavs

The Pellies are as banged up as it gets and nothing tells us that better than a 43-point Anthony Davis night still ending in a loss. New Orleans is getting closer, but they’re on the road against a decent Mavs team and are simply giving up too many points (116 per game). This should be a high-scoring affair with little defense, but the odds favor Dallas at home.

Pick: Mavs 109, Pellies 106

Grizzlies @ Jazz

Memphis has not looked good this year but one way or another we’re headed for an ugly defensive battle when they go to Utah. The Jazz have done most of their hard work on the road during the 2015-16 season and while I think they’re a mild playoff contender, they’re a good matchup for the struggling Grizz.

Pick: Grizz 90, Jazz 88

Warriors @ Kings

Stephen Curry can’t be stopped, DeMarcus Cousins is still out and the Warriors are 6-0. More specifically, they’ve had no trouble on the road this year and are putting up a ridiculous 117 points per game. A Boogie-less Kings squad can’t hope to even compete.

Pick: Warriors 115, Kings 101

Rockets @ Clippers

Easily the best game of the night comes at Staples Center, where we’ll see James Harden, Ty Lawson and Dwight Howard face off with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Houston stormed back and took the Clips down in the playoffs last year, but doing that in L.A. will be tough. Look for the Clippers to exorcise some demons in a big home win. Of course, keep in mind that Chris Paul (groin) is a game time call for this one. If he’s out, we’d side with the Rockets.

Pick: Clippers 111, Rockets 108

A day after the home team won 8 of 10 games, just 3 of 5 NBA squads held down the fort on their home floor. That contributed to a sloppy 2-3 record with our daily NBA picks, but we’re still a solid 45-29 on the year. That’s the unpredictable nature of pro basketball and precisely why it’s so much fun to cover. It was still odd to see the Thunder lose their third game in a row in Chicago, while Memphis got blown out by a seemingly inferior Portland team.

There’s more insanity on it’s way, as Friday doesn’t slow down at all with the schedule boasting a strong 10 games. All the stars are out, too, as we get to see Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and James Harden hit the courts in games tonight. Let’s get to our picks:

Raptors @ Magic

Orlando is down center Nikola Vucevic (knee) and while they’ve been highly competitive all year, they’ve also lacked that killer instinct needed to close out games. They get another tough draw with the undefeated Raptors coming to town tonight. Orlando plays hard, can put up points and are at home, but Toronto is no stranger to road success (3-0 away from home this year) and they’re the healthier squad.

Pick: Raptors 105, Magic 103

Wizards @ Celtics

Boston hasn’t been the feisty team they were a year ago thus far this season and could be without lock down defender Marcus Smart again tonight. His presence may not matter with the way John Wall and Bradley Beal are playing, though. Washington needs some work on the defensive side, but this is a matchup that works in their favor and they’ve proven strong (2-0) on the road so far.

Pick: Wiz 104, Celtics 101

76ers @ Cavs

Cleveland took down the winless Sixers last week and the result shouldn’t be any different in their second meeting of the year. This time they play at Quicken Loans Arena, where the Cavs tend to thrive. They’re in a good flow anyways, as they’ve won four straight since dropping their opener and are giving up just 90 points per game. Sorry, Sixers.

Pick: Cavs 109, Sixers 91

Lakers @ Nets

Two winless teams go head to head at Barclays Center tonight, giving us one of the tougher games to call. The Nets are at home and have Brook Lopez to lean on, but I’m not sure that matters with Roy Hibbert to give him trouble down low. Kobe Bryant should finally shows some signs of life tonight because if not in this game, then when? Neither team can defend, but the Lakers at least can put the ball in the hole (Nets averaging just 89 points per game).

Pick: Lakers 106, Nets 104

Bucks @ Knicks

The Knicks are at home tonight as they try to go up 2-0 in their season series with the Bucks. Milwaukee is slowly getting healthier but could be without Michael Carter-Williams yet again and their woeful defense could be a problem on the road. New York’s defense isn’t a whole lot better, but their offense certainly has been. I’m expecting a big game from Carmelo Anthony as the Knicks get back to .500.

Pick: Knicks 101, Bucks 98

Hawks @ Pelicans

New Orleans really has their work cut out for them to get their first win of the year tonight, as the Hawks come into town riding a nice five-game winning streak. More importantly, Atlanta’s offense is slowly rounding into form and their defense has been fairly stingy. That’s the exact opposite for the Pelicans, who can’t stop anyone due to a litany of injuries.

Pick: Hawks 109, Pelicans 95

Heat @ Pacers

We get a mini-rivalry game tonight as Dwyane Wade and Paul George to head to head in Indiana. The Pacers and Heat have both been inconsistent to this point and run completely different styles, so it will be interesting to see who can force their will. Wade has been dealing with a migraine issue, but if he’s a full go he should have no problem putting up 20+ points for the sixth game in a row. Schematically speaking, Miami has the clear upper-hand with more size down low and a more methodic offense.

Pick: Heat 101, Pacers 96

Pistons @ Suns

Detroit looks to test their defense out on the Suns tonight, as they’re allowing just over 92 points per game but have to go into Phoenix and slow down an offense putting up 104 points per game. Phoenix looked awful in their first game of the year, but since then has really come together with Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight playing well off of each other. Andre Drummond can probably control this game to a certain degree, but it won’t necessarily be easy with Tyson Chandler and Markieff Morris in the paint. I like the Suns just barely in a shootout, as they’re a little more explosive and aren’t as prone to poor shooting stretches.

Pick: Suns 106, Pistons 102

Nuggets @ Warriors

Emmanuel Mudiay has been a nice find for Denver and the Nuggets have been pretty competitive (2-3) in the early going, but being the first team to take down the Warriors is asking too much. Stephen Curry is on fire right now and Golden State almost never loses at home. If you’re making a huge bet tonight, it’s on the Warriors.

Pick: Warriors 117, Nuggets 104

Rockets @ Kings

Dwight Howard could sit this one out, but it may not matter with DeMarcus Cousins also possibly out for the third game in a row. The Kings are the inferior team across the board no matter which way you slice it, but with Boogie they’d have a chance at home. James Harden should rule this one as the Rockets get back to .500.

Pick: Rockets 107, Kings 101

It was all about the home floor on Wednesday night, as the home team won an astonishing 8 of 10 Wednesday night NBA contests. Playing at home surely has its perks, but it’s not all that often that it’s that one-sided. Even weirder are the two spots where the home team didn’t win. Utah started the year off with three straight road games and going back to Utah for their home opener didn’t prove to be beneficial, while the Thunder fell to the Raptors, who stayed undefeated.

There was even more craziness elsewhere, as the Wizards upended the visiting Spurs and the Magic forced overtime in Houston, losing for a fourth time this season by five points or less. The rest of the games went largely as expected, as we ended the night with a solid 7-3 record (43-26 on the year).

The slate thins down a bit on Thursday night, but we still have a healthy five-game slate, featuring an intense showdown between the Thunder and Bulls. Without further haste, here are tonight’s NBA picks:

Thunder @ Bulls

Chicago was lifeless against the Hornets the other day and while all of their troubles thus far have come on the road, I can’t seem to buy them against OKC right now. The Thunder would be losing a third straight if they dropped this one at the United Center, and they’re too good to do that. More specifically, Jimmy Butler is the only Bulls player that has been reliable this year. Derrick Rose is a shell of his former self at the moment and Chicago’s defense isn’t equipped to handle OKC’s offense.

Pick: Thunder 105, Bulls 102

Heat @ Timberwolves

Dwyane Wade made the trip to Minnesota but he’s questionable for tonight due to migraine issues. I think he plays, but the problem limited him in Miami’s last game and the Heat may not use him as much as they normally would with the Timberwolves being a winnable matchup without him. We think, at least. The Timberwolves are filled with talent and Ricky Rubio has been outstanding through three games, so it’s possible the Heat have a fight on their hands. Maybe, but Hassan Whiteside has been a menace and I doubt rookie big man Karl-Anthony Towns will be able to dominate him at either end. This game is closer if Wade doesn’t play, but I like Miami, regardless.

Pick: Heat 101, T’Wolves 96

Hornets @ Mavs

Dallas has been an interesting team, as they’re staying afloat while a bunch of their guys slowly get healthy, but they’re not crushing it on offense in the process. Charlotte, meanwhile, is oddly putting up some points (102 per game) and is no longer a defensive threat. If the Hornets are actually hitting tonight we could get a weird shootout, but the Mavs are deeper and at home, so I think they pull it out.

Pick: Mavs 104, Hornets 99

Jazz @ Nuggets

Utah is back on the road for the fourth time in five games, but that’s where their defense has been at it’s best. Denver can get the offense rolling at times, but they still don’t play any defense and I think rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay will struggle to get into a groove against such a solid defense. Gordon Hayward should have his best game yet in a nice road win.

Pick: Jazz 104, Nuggets 97

Grizzlies @ Blazers

Memphis has been very up and down so far this year and could enter this matchup in Portland at less than 100%. Marc Gasol has been pretty spare and he’s now dealing with a sore neck. He could dominate this matchup if he’s out there, but his availability is shaky. I think Memphis is the better team even without Gasol, as they play far better defense and Portland really has little else beyond Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Those guys will probably still get theirs, but it will be in a loss.

Pick: Grizz 104, Blazers 101

Boy, were last night’s picks an utter disaster. I may never bet on the Lakers again, while the Bulls flat out didn’t show up in Charlotte and the Pelicans can’t even beat the freaking Magic. Miami couldn’t win at home and the Pistons lost their first game of the year, too.

Logic was definitely there for our NBA picks, but the reality was far away from what we thought it would be as we stumbled to an ugly 1-6 record last night (36-23 on the year). We get plenty of chances to improve upon that wasteland showing tonight, as Big NBA Wednesday returns with a healthy 10-game slate. Let’s get to it:

Celtics @ Pacers

Boston is a pretty feisty team but they lack star power or any kind of defensive edge. The Pacers are at least keeping opponents under 100 points per game, are at home and have Paul George. Boston wins the interior game, but this might be a game where George runs the four. I also think Monta Ellis is beyond due for a breakout game with his new team, so he could drive them to their second win of the year.

Pick: Pacers 97, Celtics 95

Spurs @ Wizards

I think Washington is a pretty good team this year, even though they barely beat the Bucks and are already 0-1 on their home floor. They’re good, but they’re not the Spurs, who are elite. They’re not quite where they need to be offensively just yet, but their defense has been nasty over the past three games. Allowing just 89 points per game on the year, the Spurs should go into D.C. and limit the Wiz. Kawhi Leonard will take care of Brad Beal and San Antonio’s size will prevent John Wall from controlling this game.

Pick: Spurs 92, Wiz 89

Nets @ Hawks

Brooklyn looks all kinds of awful right now, as they are putting up barely 90 points per game while allowing over 105 per game. They have zero depth to speak of and even their starting five isn’t getting it done. They need to feed Brook Lopez even more to even have a shot at winning 20 games this year. Atlanta’s defense has actually been kind of weak down low, but it won’t matter against this Nets team. Also, the Hawks have won three in a row and don’t lose on their home floor too often.

Pick: Hawks 108, Nets 92

Knicks @ Cavs

New York has been inconsistent so far this year, but when they’re on they have looked pretty darn good. Kristaps Porzingis has looked solid and Carmelo Anthony is back to elite status for the most part. Their issue is they aren’t giving Jerian Grant enough run and they can’t defend. All of that works for Cleveland, who looks strong at 3-1 and is a tough out at home.

Pick: Cavs 111, Knicks 104

Magic @ Rockets

Orlando has been getting some tough breaks early this year, as they’ve pushed some very good teams to the limit and could easily be undefeated right now. They finally got their first win in their last game, but have to turn right back around and go out to Houston to take on the Rockets. Houston got their act together with a big win over the Thunder, so it’s unlikely they suddenly falter and drop to 1-4.

Pick: Rockets 108, Magic 102

76ers @ Bucks

The Bucks finally got their first win in a recent meeting with the Nets and the Sixers give them a good opportunity to get a second straight win. The Sixers are slightly better than they were a year ago, but they still give up a ton of points and struggle to score consistently. I think Nik Stauskas could get hot in this one and Jahlil Okafor scores well down low, but Milwaukee should run away with it in the end.

Pick: Bucks 106, Sixers 90

Raptors @ Thunder

One of the better games of the night, Toronto travels to OKC to try to slow down the Thunder. Few have been able to do it early on in the 2015-16 NBA season and this is as good a time as any for the Raptors to be handed their first loss of the year.

Pick: Thunder 109, Raptors 106

Kings @ Suns

DeMarcus Cousins remains out, so the Kings are going to be a tough sell on the road. Phoenix has only beaten the Blazers so far this year (twice), but they’re at home and Sacramento’s defense is absolutely atrocious.

Pick: Suns 104, Kings 101

Blazers @ Jazz

Portland always carries potential offensively, but they’ve cooled off a bit since their opening win over the Pelicans, while a trip to Utah is never good for offensive flow. The Jazz hit their home floor for the first time this year and they bring the best defense in the NBA with them.

Pick: Jazz 94, Blazers 87

Clippers @ Warriors

Easily the top game of the night, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin lead the Clippers into Oracle Arena against the defending champs. This would be a logical spot for the Warriors to lose their first game of the year, but they’re pretty unstoppable on their home floor and they hate the Clippers. Something has to break, though, as these two divisional rivals are both undefeated.

Pick: Warriors 107, Clippers 105

Stephen Curry can’t be stopped, the Rockets didn’t want to be 0-4 and the Nets might be one of the worst teams in the league. It was a fun Monday night of NBA action to help get the week started, and it didn’t disappoint as far as individual performances go.

Curry went nuts, but it was James Harden who poured in the most points of the night and staved off his former team (as well as an 0-4 start) with a big home win over OKC. Houston is off tonight, but 14 other teams hit the hardwood to provide us with seven sweet NBA games to bet on. Let’s break each one down and see which side we should lean on tonight:

Bulls @ Hornets

Charlotte can’t really catch a break this year, as they’re 0-3 despite playing solid defense, overall. It’s the offense that is lacking, as well as inconsistency. The Bulls know nothing about either aspects, as they’re a solid 3-1, are playing quality defense and are putting up nearly 100 points per game. Derrick Rose isn’t even at top form yet, and Chicago still looks like a tough out. Charlotte is probably looking at another loss.

Pick: Bulls 101, Hornets 96

Pacers @ Pistons

Indiana has been failing at turning into an up-tempo offense, as Monta Ellis hasn’t been the offensive spark he was supposed to be, the bench is rather barren and the Pacers can’t compete consistently down low. All of that sounds awful as they hit up Detroit, where the Pistons are 3-0, putting up a decent 98 points per game and playing stifling defense. Detroit should stay perfect.

Pick: Pistons 102, Pacers 97

Hawks @ Heat

At least for three games now, Miami has found an offensive groove and Dwyane Wade is a healthy superstar. Who knows how long that lasts, but with no true defensive stopper on the wing for the Hawks and this one being in South Beach, it’s hard not to favor the Heat.

Pick: Heat 99, Hawks 96

Magic @ Pelicans

This is a tale of sadness and despair, as the Magic have fought hard to an 0-3 start, losing three nail-biters and actually looking quite good in the process. The Pelicans are also winless, but have looked less impressive in their defeats. That being said, Anthony Davis can’t stay grounded for long and extra minutes allotted to point guard Jrue Holiday helps New Orleans greatly at home.

Pick: Pellies 108, Magic 104

Raptors @ Mavs

This is what we like to call a trap game. Toronto has to go into Dallas to take on a potent Mavs offense that is slowly getting healthy, and ahead of them on Wednesday night is a brutal road date with the Thunder. Toronto absolutely can win this game, but it’s on the road and Deron Williams, Wes Matthews and Chandler Parsons should all be available. I like Dallas by a hair at home in what figures to be a shootout.

Pick: Mavs 104, Raps 102

Grizzlies @ Kings

DeMarcus Cousins is out for a couple games due to injury, so right off the bat the Kings aren’t going to be a fun team to bet on. That probably was the case even with a healthy Boogie, as Sacramento is giving up 113 points per game and so far has only beaten the Lakers. Congrats, Sac-town. They’re at home tonight, but sans their best player and the Grizz are going to be irate after getting slapped around last night by the Warriors. I expect a big Memphis win.

Pick: Grizz 106, Kings 85

Nuggets @ Lakers

Quite arguably the game of the night is Denver vs. L.A., as neither team can play defense, but both can put the ball in the hoop. So, it has the prospects of an exciting, back and forth affair. Kobe Bryant has been woefully inefficient, but he’s admitted as much and renewed determination could lead to his best game of the year. Los Angeles is playing far worse defense so far this year and is not the better team, but Emmanuel Mudiay has regressed since a sensational debut and the Lakers’ veteran roster should take advantage of an ideal setting to get their first win of the year.

Pick: Lakers 112, Nuggets 110