Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers (ESPN)
The Bulls and Sixers open the ESPN’s Saturday double-header at the Wellls Fargo Centre (all times AEST).
After a sluggish start to the season Chicago were finally starting to get it together to make a push towards the playoffs, but did recently drop six in a row. They have won two of their last three.
They remain in the East’s ninth seed at 15-27 but with a host of rival teams right on their tale, including the Pistons, Hornets and Wizards.
Chicago will be without Wendell Carter Jr for the next 4-5 weeks after the big man suffered a severe ankle sprain in a major blow for this team.
The Sixers haven’t looked great without star big man Joel Embiid, going 2-2 in his absence. Embiid was cleared for non-contact work at training and will be re-evaluated in roughly one week.
Ben Simmons has picked up the slack in his absence, averaging 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, seven assists and 1.8 steals over the last week.
Philly are one of the best home teams in the league where they are 19-2.
Tip: Philadelphia -2.5 @ $1.44
Miami Heat at OKC Thunder
The Heat are in Oklahoma City a huge inter-conference battle.
Miami dropped two games in a row on the road to the Nets and Knicks but got things back on track with a narrow 106-100 win over the Spurs.
The Heat still impressively sit second in the East at 28-12, in large due to their 18-1 home record. They don’t fare as well on the road though (10-11), which is one of the keys to this team going to the next level.
Sharpshooting rookie Tyler Herro is day-to-day with a knee injury but is travelling with the team for this one.
The Thunder have dropped two of their last three but have been one of the biggest surprise packages this season for a team many predicted would finish in the bottom three.
OKC are 23-18 behind the steady play of Chris Paul, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, Denis Schroder and Steven Adams and a 107.5 defensive rating, which is equal with Miami’s.
Adams is questionable for this one with a knee issue and Nerlens Noel has missed the last six games with an ankle sprain, which will leave the Thunder’s frontcourt thin.
Tip: Miami to win @ $1.96
Portland Trail Blazers at Dallas Mavericks (ESPN)
The Blazers are in Dallas to close out the ESPN double-header.
Portland are fighting it out for the eight seed, currently sitting 10th at 18-24. They have won their last two against Hornets and Chicago and are arguably the most likely team to climb into the playoffs should a Memphis or OKC cool off.
You can never write off a team led by Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum though, while Carmelo Anthony is quietly having a very solid campaign. Hassan Whiteside leads the league in blocks at 2.87 per game.
The Mavs are starting to work it out with Kristaps Porzingis on the shelf, winning three in a row over the Sixers, Warriors and Kings to hold down the West’s sixth seed at 26-15.
Porzingis was supposed to face Sacramento but was a late scratch and his status for this one is uncertain. Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber have picked up the slack in the frontcourt without him.
Luka Doncic continues to do Luka Doncic things, averaging 28.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and nine assists on the season. Dallas are surprisingly better on the road (14-5) than at home (12-10) this season.
The Blazers won this matchup in Dallas back in October 121-119.
Tip: Portland to win @ $3.60
