Bruce's Picks (3 Live)
Can the Warriors finally beat the Blazers? A pair of earlier meetings this season resulted in defeats, but Portland wasn't wobbling as much in October when romping 139-119 (Golden State flat after a wild OT win over the Nuggets the previous night). The Blazers had shown signs of sagging before the November 21 win at Chase Center, but at the moment it looks close to a full retreat, dropping six of seven and thumped in the last two at Memphis and New Orleans. For the Dubs, only Al Horford is out, and Steve Kerr's bunch won its last two at Cleveland and Chicago on the recent road trip. Steph Curry also scored 36.5 ppg vs. the Blazers in the two earlier meetings. Play Warriors
Here is a unique intersection of bounce-back and revenge for the Lake Show tonight in Phoenix. Much ado about Lakers defensive shortcomings after LA was shot full of holes by the Spurs in Wednesday's NBA Cup loss at Crypto.com. Moreover, Austin Reaves will be missing this game tonight in the desert. Still, the combo of Wednesday's humbling and a 125-108 home loss to the Suns two weeks ago in LA makes this an interesting psychological spot for the Lake Show. Still to be determined for Phoenix are statuses of Dillon Brooks (who scored 33 in that 17-point win) and Devin Booker, out since that same December 1 game. No matter, revenge and bounce-back both line up on LA's side tonight. Play Lakers
Much is being made about the Lakers' defensive shortcomings, which were exposed again when the Spurs knocked the Lake Show out of the NBA Cup on Wednesday at Crypto.com. Slowness on the perimeter made it tough to keep pace with the rapid-fire Spurs shooters, who kept finding open looks, especially beyond the arc, where they canned 17 triples. Of course the Suns fared even worse on Wednesday at OKC, but didn't have Devin Booker, who might be available tonight. If not, remember Booker only played 10 minutes in the 125-108 Phoenix win at LA on December 1, when Dillon Brooks (likely available) scored 33 and Collin Gillespie added 28 in a game that looked remarkably similar to the Spurs' win at LA. Play Lakers-Suns Over
These two missed each other at Maui a few weeks ago and the Cougs are probably wishing they could turn back the clock, as they haven't won since beating Chaminade in Lahaina. This matchup conjures memories of old Pac 8/10/12 era, and Wazzu might be longing for those days as David Riley's current edition has dropped four straight and hasn't scored more than 64 in the last three of those losses. In the most-recent setback, vs. Nevada, the Cougs hit only 39% of their shots. SC is certainly more potent, as the Trojans shook off last week's loss to Washington by scoring 94 at midweek down at San Diego, hitting 62% from the floor with ex-Auburn wing Chad Baker-Mazara exploding for 31 points. Play USC
Not since before Halloween have the Bucks won back-to-back games, which makes us think that Friday's win over the Celtics might prove a tough act to follow. Boston helped by missing 35 triples at Fiserv Forum, and Milwaukee is going to continue for the next couple of weeks, it seems, minus Giannis, now dealing with a bothersome calf strain. The Bucks hit 58% from the floor on Friday, another act that's likely hard to repeat. Meanwhile the Nets aren't playing too badly, with wins in three of five and pushing the hot Mavs into the final minute on Friday, and Michael Porter Jr on a real heater, scoring 33 or more in four of the last five Brooklyn games. Play Nets
Confronting the injury myth here, expecting the improved Sixers to offer some value even if minus some of their big guns. Tyrese Maxey has already been ruled out and there's a good chance Joel Embiid (knee; gametime decision) might not feature, either, but Philly looks rejuvenated for Nick Nurse, winning four of its last five, and here is a chance to shine for sorts like Gs Quentin Grimes & VJ Edgecombe, who have been producing effectively, not to mention Paul George, off of 23 points on Friday vs. the Pacers. Meanwhile, Atlanta is hardly at full strength, still down Trae Young, and Kristaps Porzingis also sidelined. The Hawks have also dropped four of five, allowing a whopping 131 ppg the last three. Play Sixers
The Mastodons continue to fire away as have most of Jon Coffman's IPFW sides, this edition scoring at a crisp 86.3 ppg pace, and once again paced by a bristling backcourt. Now it's jr. Corey Hadnot II (20.7 ppg) along with Denver transfer DeAndre Craig, Jr (15.5 ppg) and Grambling transfer Mikale Stevenson (13.7 ppg) fueling the charge for an offense also hitting nearly 50% from the floor. The names change but the style remains the same for the Mastodons. Detroit doesn't play at quite the same speed but has the capacity to go uptempo as a recent shootouts vs. DePaul (a 95-75 loss) and IU-Indy (a 92-78 win) suggest. Note both meetings cleared 153.5 last season. Play Detroit-IPFW Over
Getting a rare shot at one of the in-state ACC big boys, doubt Queens does anything different than normal...run and gun. Grant Leonard's side is once again playing at a fast pace, scoring nearly 86 ppg, and cracking the century mark in its last two vs. Gardner-Webb and SC State while crashing over with ease. Queens scores from everywhere, including beyond the arc where it hits nearly 38%, with G Nasir Mann (15.9 ppg) leading a balanced attack. The Deacs will relish this chance to pad their stats and can gladly play at uptempo as the Royals prefer. Wake scores 83 ppg as All-Name 6-7 soph wing Juke Harris is proving a revelation for Steve Forbes, scoring at a 20.7 ppg clip. Play Queens-Wake Over
Is the marketplace overthinking too much for this clash? The Broncos should not be underdogs at home against anybody, not with a ten-game SU win streak. The fact Denver is winning these games close shouldn't be held against Sean Payton's crew; their style of game simply is methodical, with few big plays these days on offense and the defense good enough to win most games. Margins can start to expand for Denver when the stop unit begins to convert pick-sixes and scoop-and-scores like a year ago. That hasn't happened as much this season, but the Broncos keep winning as Bo Nix and the offense do just enough each week. Note the Pack has covered just 3 of its last 12 away. Play Broncos.
The Pacers ran into a hot Joel Embiid (season-high 39 points) and the Sixers on Friday, but most of the recent trendlines are good for Indiana, which had won four of six before the 115-105 loss at Philly. Rick Carlisle is still working on short rations with the injury situation (no Haliburton, no Toppin, no Nembhard, among others), but there are still some valuable pieces available like Pascal Siakam (24.3 ppg) and Bennedict Mathurin (20.3 ppg), and the team having had time to adjust to the absences. We can always go against the Wizards, too, who were flattened 119-96 by the Pacers not long ago (November 28), and are on another losing streak (four) that includes defeats by 19, 45, and 15 points. Play Pacers
Is it surprising the Bolts are getting this sort of price? Or more surprising the Chiefs are laying so many points? Not since October has KC won a game by more than three points, in fact it's been downright awful in one-score games this season, only 1-6, and playoff hopes hanging by a thread (one more loss effectively eliminates KC for the first time since 2014). Things aren't quite right, from Travis Kelce dropping passes he normally doesn't, to Patrick Mahomes lacking the old late-game magic. Meanwhile, the Chargers won 27-21 over the Chiefs on opening Friday in Brazil, Justin Herbert's left wrist has had another week to heal, and the Bolts are 4-1 vs, the line their last five at Arrowhead. Play Chargers
Sometimes we get a bit gun-shy when all of the trends seem to point in one direction. On the other hand, the eye test is always best. So maybe we shouldn't be afraid to buck the Cards, who are 0-5 SU (1-4 vs. the line) since the move to Jacoby Brissett at QB became official after the Nov. 3 win over Dallas. Arizona has also allowed 40+ points three times in the last five. For the Texans, they haven't lost since the same weekend Arizona last won (Nov. 2-3), and the five-game win streak has seen CJ Stroud return to active duty and the defense continue to excel. Allowing only 16 ppg, Houston looks like a blockade in front of the Big Red. Play Texans