Bruce's Picks (5 Live)
Friday turned into a double whammy for the Grizzlies. First, Zach Edey, whose return to active duty in November coincided with a Memphis revival, was out with an ankle injury. More impactful, negatively, was the return of Ja Morant from his calf strain. Maybe not coincidentally, the Griz has surged to seven wins in nine minus Ja's distracting presence, but upon his return on Friday, he continued his subpar 35% FG shooting (just 7 for 20) in a loss to the Jazz. Simply, Morant is an overwhelmingly negative presence that needs to be traded; in the meantime, we'll even back the Clips, who have had their own issues but did push Minnesota and Houston at the end of their recent road trip. Play Clippers.
Non-sensical, it seems, for Denver to have lost four straight games at home, considering it has won eleven straight on the road! No new injury news on top of Aaron Gordon's absence, and Nikola Jokic was full steam ahead on the just-completed road swing, scoring at a brisk 32 ppg clip across the four wins as the Nuggets reached at least 134 points three of those occasions. Meanwhile it looks like the Rockets have flattened out a bit, struggling in some recent outings and losing their last two on the road at Utah and Dallas. Note Denver handed Houston its only loss in a nine-game stretch in November when the Joker scored 34 in a 112-109 win at Toyota Center on November 21. Play Nuggets
Not exactly Dolphins weather tonight in Pittsburgh, but Miami does have four wins on the spin as Mike McDaniel has found something that works the past month. All a bit unlikely following GM Chris Grier's midseason dismissal and McDaniel apparently just missing a similar fate. While not posting spectacular numbers, Tua Tagovailoa has at least stabilized at QB, running a low-risk offense leaning on the run, and the defense has allowed 17 points or fewer in each of the five wins in the current six-game span. Meanwhile, the Steelers are off of their win at Baltimore, but still fail to convince, as the defense has often leaked (and no TJ Watt tonight) and Aaron Rodgers has been inconsistent at best at QB. Play Dolphins
Goals-goals-goals, lots of them lately for Nashville. The Blues know first-hand after the Preds put seven past them last Thursday at Bridgestone Arena when Steven Stamkos scored four times for just the second time in his career. Though several have chipped in lately for Andrew Brunette, whose team seems to have solved its earlier offensive issues, scoring 35 times across the past nine games. Joel Hofer, in the net for St Louis tonight, came on late last Thursday, and gets another chance tonight after posting some very so-so numbers this season (including 3.10 GAA and .893 saves). Play Preds-Blues Over
It took the powerhouse Avs to cool down the rejuvenated Preds on Saturday night but Nashville still emits go-with vibes. The Blues could attest after getting run off of the ice at Bridgestone Arena by the Preds last Thursday in a 7-2 romp featuring four goals by Steven Stamkos (for just the second time in his career). Nashville had won six of eight, including against the Avs last Tuesday, before losing Saturday in Denver, but importantly for the Preds, the offense looks alive again. Meanwhile, St Louis continues to have issues on offense, held to three goals or fewer in eight straight games. Play Preds on Money Line
After being gifted lowly Wolves in their last outing, things will be a bit more difficult for Man U tonight vs. Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth. The Cherries have seen their offense bog down the last two, but their high-pressing style has the capacity to unnerve foes, too. Bigger news for Man U, which feared it would lose top scorer Brian Mbeumo plus Amad and Noussair Mazraoui to AFCON duty, though FIFA ruled they can stay for Big Monday before heading to their national sides. Mbeumo in particular will be missed for upcoming matches, so his presence is key, but Man U has been a bit unreliable, and Ruben Amorim has injury absences, too (Matthijs da Ligt, Benjamin Sesko, Harry Maguire). Play Bournemouth on Spread
Though on the short end of a 4-0 scoreline at the San Siro vs. angry Inter last week, Cesc Fabregas' Como still punches above its weight in Serie A, unbeaten the previous five away. Along the way, Fabregas has gotten good mileage from 21-year old Argentinian Nico Paz, on loan from Real Madrid but adding much pizzazz with team-best marks in goals and assists (five each). Meanwhile, it's win or bust for Roma, yet to draw in 14 matches, as the jury remains out on Gian Piero Gasperini's move from Atalanta. Consistency is Gasperini's issue; the 3-0 Europa League win over Celtic at midweek was preceded by shutout losses to Cagliari and Napoli. Is this the night for a Roma draw? Play Como on Spread
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