Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers (ESPN)
The Pacers (18-10) travel to Philadelphia (19-10) in the first of ESPN’s double-header.
Indiana are in good shape, blowing out the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday (all times AEST) for their fifth-straight win to close in on a top three seed in the East.
Victor Oladipo (knee) returned from an extended absence against the Bucks, dropping 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 29 minutes.
While every team is pushing the ball and playing fast, Nate McMillian’s squad is dribbling it up slowly and running plays, and it’s working.
The Pacers rank 25th in the league in scoring (106.4), but first in points allowed (101.3).
They run into a Sixers outfit who are reeling off a home loss to the Brooklyn Nets, playing without Jimmy Butler (groin, day-to-day).
Butler could be considered doubtful for this contest, meaning Philly need big performances out of their role players, such as TJ McConnell, Mike Muscula and Wilson Chandler.
Tip: Philadelphia to win @ $1.52.
OKC Thunder at Denver Nuggets (ESPN)
Two of the Western Conference’s top four aspirants collide in Denver, where the winner could claim the number one seed.
The Nuggets have been hit hard with injuries, losing Gary Harris (hip) and Paul Milsap (toe) for over a month to add to a list of causalities that includes Will Barton and Isaiah Thomas.
It’s been one man down, next man up for Mike Malone’s squad, who have gotten solid performances out of Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez and Monte Morris throughout their injury crisis.
They even signed Nick Young to fill a scoring void, but do these young Nuggets have a breaking point?
The Thunder are coming off a road loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday after having a chance to win on the final possession.
Billy Donovan’s team are 7-3 in their last 10 and look a much better team this season, doubling down on Russell Westbrook and Paul George with Carmelo Anthony out of town, while the addition of Dennis Shroder has been underrated.
The injuries may just catch up to Denver.
Tip: OKC to win @ $1.80.
Portland Trail Blazers at Toronto Raptors
The Blazers (15-13) face the daunting task of travelling to Toronto to face the league-leading Raptors (23-7).
Portland have fallen in a slump, dropping five of their past seven games to slide down to the ninth seed. As has been the story of this team for some time, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum can’t do it all.
Even with their two-star offensive guards, the Blazers are middle ranked scoring team, ranking 13th in the league (111 points).
It is hard to forge a case for them against the Raptors, who may get Kawhi Leonard back from a hip injury. Even without The Claw, Toronto just smacked the Golden State Warriors in Oakland on Thursday 113-93.
The likes of Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka and Danny Green can step up on any given night, although Jonas Valanciunas will miss the next four weeks after requiring surgery for a thumb dislocation.
It would take a mighty effort for the Blazers to win this, Lillard might need to drop 40 plus.
Tip: Toronto to win.
