Philadelphia 76ers at Houston Rockets (ESPN)
The Sixers (41-24) visit Houston in a blockbuster clash between two of the league’s top teams.
Joel Embiid will miss his seventh-straight game with a knee injury as Philly have gone 4-3 over that span. The Sixers dropped their last game to the Bulls behind Zach LaVine’s late-game heroics.
Despite having obvious eye on being healthy in the post-season, this team desperately needs Embiid back on the court to get rolling again.
They meet a red-hot Rockets outfit who have won six straight, including road victories over the Warriors, Celtics and Raptors. With Chris Paul and Clint Capela back in the fold, this team is humming again, while James Harden continues to stuff the stat sheet (averaging 37.4 points, 4.8 threes, 5.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game over the last month).
Last time these teams met in late January, Philly won at home 121-93 as Embiid dropped 32 points and 14 rebounds.
Tip: Houston to win.
Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (ESPN)
The two premier teams in the West do battle as Denver meets Golden State at Oracle Arena.
After dropping three in a row, the Nugs got things back on track on Thursday in a 115-99 win against the Lakers at Staples Centre (all times AEST). Now that they have a full-strength squad, Mike Malone must work out how to maximise his talent.
There have been obvious growing pains adding Isaiah Thomas into the rotation, but you feel like he could be a major X-factor in the playoffs.
The Dubs have not been in the greatest form, dropping three of their last four, including defeats in Miami and Orlando. In their most recent game, they were blown out by the Celtics in their own building 128-95.
Klay Thompson has missed their last two with a right knee issue, but is probable to suit up in this one.
The Warriors romped the Nuggets 142-111 at Pepsi Centre the last time these teams met in January.
Tip: Golden State -6.0 @ $1.85.
OKC Thunder at LA Clippers
The Thunder and Clippers meet to round out the NBA’s Saturday card in a game that will have huge ramifications on the Western Conference standings.
OKC have dropped five of their last six and just got Paul George back from a three-game absence in their most recent loss in Minnesota.
Billy Donovan’s team have tumbled down to fourth after looking like a threat to win the whole West not along ago. The Thunder are 17-16 on the road this season.
The Clips are on a nice little three-game win streak and are rediscovering their identity after shaking things up prior to the trade deadline. Patrick Beverley has been in sensational form, dropping 13 points, three triples, nine rebounds and five steals on the Lakers in their recent win.
The Thunder won the last meeting between these two teams 110-104 back in December.
Tip: OKC to win @ $2.04.
