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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
