Toronto Raptors @ Boston Celtics (ESPN)
Two division rivals go head-to-head as the Raptors (12-3) visit Boston (8-6).
Toronto, currently on top of the Eastern Conference, have been super charged by Kawhi Leonard (averaging 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals) this season, while Kyle Lowry (16.1 points, 10.7 assists, 1.3 steals) has emerged as an elite floor general and MVP contender.
Serge Ibaka is enjoying a fine bounce back season, shooting a career-high 57 per cent from the field, and Pascai Siakam (64 per cent field goal shooting, ranked fourth in NBA) has been a revelation.
The Celtics have been a slow out of the gate thus far, but are always tough to beat at the TD Garden.
Kyrie Irving (averaging 27 points, six assists, 3.3 steals in last five games) is really starting to fire, and Jayson Tatum’s shot is starting to drop, averaging 20.6 points from his last three contests.
Gordan Hayward’s struggles have been well documented, and Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier have not backed up their solid 2017-18 campaigns.
Regardless, Brad Stevens’ crew still rank second in the league for points allowed (101.9), and it is only a matter of time before the offence picks up.
Tip: Boston -1.5 @ $1.91.
Utah Jazz @ Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons’ Sixers (9-7) meet Joe Ingles’ Jazz (7-7) in a battle of the Aussie heavyweights.
Both teams have failed to live up to expectations this season, so much so that the Sixers shook things up by trading Robert Covington and Dario Saric to the Wolves for star forward Jimmy Butler.
But the start of the Butler era in Philly did not go accordingly, narrowly falling to the Orlando Magic behind Terrence Ross’ dagger three.
Butler struggled to mesh with Ben Simmons and co. in his opening hit out, and the chemistry issues will take some time to iron out.
Utah are coming off a 50-point blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks and have been inconsistent through their first 14 games.
Rudy Gobert (13.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 71 per cent field goal shooting) has been a monster, while the rest of the Jazz crew have been up and down.
Strangely enough, Utah have performed better on the road (5-3) than at home (2-4), although their recent thrashing was in Dallas.
Tip: Philadelphia to win @ $1.66.
Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN)
The Bulls (4-11) make the trip to Milwaukee (10-4) in a Central division face off.
Chicago have been a competitive outfit this year, driven by Most Improved Player of the Year candidate Zach LaVine (25.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, four assists).
It looks like the Bulls have found a player in their seventh pick, Wendell Carter Jr. (11.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, two blocks), who has done a fine job at anchoring the defence.
But it is hard to see Fred Hoilberg’s young squad getting close to this stacked Bucks team, as Giannis Antetokounmpo (25.8 points, 12.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.4 steals) continues to shine.
Brook Lopez (2.9 three-pointers at 41 per cent) has emerged as one of the league’s sharpshooters, adding an extra dimension to Milwaukee’s offence, which ranks first in the league (121 points).
The Bucks will be out to redeem themselves after narrowly going down to the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Thursday.
Tip: Milwaukee -14.0 @ $1.98.
