Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics (ESPN)
Toronto (33-12) visit Boston (25-18) in a division rival matchup and the first of ESPN’s double-header.
The Raptors hold the best record in the NBA and are currently riding a league-best five-game win streak.
What is perhaps most impressive is about Toronto’s dominant season is that they have survived injuries to Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Lowry while managing Kawhi Leonard on back-to-backs, yet still sit on top of the standings.
Nick Nurse’s team is coming off a double overtime win in Washington on Monday (all times AEST) where Leonard led the way with an explosive 41-point outing to go with 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Pascal Siakam added 24 points and career-high 19 boards.
The Celtics are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, coming off a 102-109 defeat in Brooklyn on Tuesday. The C’s seemingly managed Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart in that one due to their busy four-game schedule this week and both players should be right to go in this one.
It may be time for Brad Stevens to cut down his deep rotation, or Boston might just be in a funk that all teams inevitably go through over an 82-game fixture. It comes as Irving reportedly challenged teammates in the locker room, saying they lacked “championship” pedigree, so all is clearly not well in the locker room.
Last time these teams met in Boston on November 16, the Celtics won 123-116 in overtime as Irving poured in 43 points and dished out 11 assists. Leonard added 31 points and 15 boards for Toronto.
Tip: Toronto to win.
New Orleans Pelicans at Golden State Warriors (ESPN)
New Orleans (21-23) head to Golden State (29-14) in the second of ESPN’s back-to-back set.
The Pelicans will go as far as Anthony Davis takes them, who is coming off a massive performance in his team’s 121-117 win in LA against the Clippers on Tuesday, including 46 points and 16 rebounds.
New Orleans are starting to look better after a poor start to the season, winning four of their last five games, although two of those came against the Cavs. Alvin Gentry’s team sits two and a half games out of the West’s eighth seed and aren’t about to throw the towel in.
The Warriors continue to find ways to win despite not looking like the dominant force they have been in previous campaigns.
They have quietly put together a nice stretch of winning six of their past seven, with the only loss coming against the Rockets thanks to James Harden’s emphatic buzzer-beating triple.
Most recently, the Dubs ousted the Mavs on the road on Monday behind Steph Curry’s monster game (48 points, 11 treys).
In their last meeting, the Warriors came out on top 131-121 at home as Curry dropped 37 points, seven 3-pointers and nine assists. Davis recorded a season-low 17 points.
Tip: Golden State -5.5 @ $1.85.
The Jazz (24-21) are in LA (24-19) with both teams vying for a playoff spots in a busy Western Conference.
Utah are starting to look more like the Utah of last season, claiming four-straight wins, including six of their last seven to climb into the West’s eighth seed. Quin Snyder’s team is yet to be truly tested, with their current streak of victories coming against the Magic, the LeBron-less Lakers, Bulls and Detroit all at home.
Utah narrowly triumphed over the Pistons 100-94 on Tuesday behind Donovan Mitchell’s 28 points, while Rudy Gobert racked up 18 points and 25 boards.
Meanwhile, the Clippers have dropped three-straight and look tired, but Montrezl Harell, Danilo Gallinari and Tobias Harris continue to shine. Harrell posted 26 points and 10 rebounds in their loss to the Pelicans.
LA have slipped down to the West’s sixth seed after a terrific start to the campaign that had them in the number one spot a couple of months back. And with several good teams on the outside looking in, such as the Lakers, Kings and Pelicans, they will need to pick up their act soon.
This is the first meeting between these teams this season.
Tip: Jazz to win @ $2.12.
