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We said New Year’s Day would be a cakewalk, and it really was, as we started 2015 off right with our NBA picks, going 2-0 on the night. That brings us to a steady 264-138 season record. We ride our mini-perfect ride from Thursday into a fully loaded Friday night.
Get yourself ready as we try to manage the tides of another crazy docket:
Nets @ Magic
Brooklyn enters Orlando with two straight wins and winners of six of their last 10, while the Magic continue to struggle. Orlando is also just 4-10 on their home floor, so they may not have much of an advantage when the Nets come into town tonight.
Pick: Nets 99, Magic 96
Mavericks @ Celtics
Rajon Rondo returns to take on the Celtics in Boston, while the Mavericks hold the upper hand in just about every way in this matchup. Boston might be able to keep up with them offensively, but their defense may not be able to finish the job.
Pick: Mavs 108, Celtics 104
Pacers @ Bucks
Milwaukee keeps going back and forth around .500 but with two straight wins, they head into tonight’s matchup with a chance at getting two games above .500. They can do it against the Pacers, who they already beat earlier in the year.
Pick: Bucks 102, Pacers 97
76ers @ Suns
The Suns are running the floor and scoring about as good as anyone right now and look like a legit playoff contender out West. They ran all over the Sixers the first time they met this year (122-96), so there’s little doubt they’ll have much trouble with them at home tonight.
Pick: Suns 114, 76ers 102
Hawks @ Jazz
Atlanta has been one of the best teams out East and will carry a two-game winning streak into Utah. The Jazz only lost by three in their first meeting, but Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap could continue to lay out some punishment on their former squad.
Pick: Hawks 102, Jazz 99
Cavaliers @ Hornets
LeBron James is out for two weeks and Kevin Love (back) is also dinged up, so Cleveland should enter tonight’s matchup with the Hornets at far less than 100%. Unfortunately, Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson are also out, so this could be the Kyrie Irving show.
Pick: Cavs 101, Hornets 98
Pistons @ Knicks
Detroit has turned things around ever since unloading Josh Smith, and they’ll come into tonight with a three-game winning streak and looking to make it four in a row. They’re a good bet to stay hot, too, since the Knicks have dropped a whopping nine straight games and continue to look absolutely lost.
Pick: Pistons 104, Knicks 101
Rockets @ Pelicans
Anthony Davis hosts the Rockets, who haven’t looked quite themselves as they try to get Josh Smith acclimated. They still have the talent and defense to give the Pellies a tough time, though, so we’ll take the Rockets at home.
Pick: Rockets 107, Pelicans 105
Wizards @ Thunder
OKC has been a pretty tough team when healthy, as evidenced by their 8-2 record when Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are both in the lineup. They’re also 4-0 at home when that happens, so the Wiz might be expecting a loss tonight.
Pick: Thunder 106, Wizards 102
Raptors @ Warriors
Toronto has a tough task in trying to steal a big road win in Golden State, where the Warriors have lost just once all season. The Raptors could make it two times, but that’s not a great bet to roll with on such a loaded night.
Pick: Warriors 108, Raptors 107
Grizzlies @ Lakers
Kobe Bryant and his Lakers have given the Grizz a fight in two losses this year, but it’s beyond clear that Memphis plays better defense and closes games better. With a stout 10-4 record away from home, there’s little reason to think the Grizzlies can’t take another step closer to a complete series sweep.
Pick: Grizz 109, Lakers 103
