Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers (ESPN)
The Raptors and Indiana face off at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse to open the ESPN Saturday double-header (all times AEST).
Toronto are on a serious tear, currently riding a 12-game win streak. Now at virtually full health outside of Marc Gasol (hamstring), this team looks determined to make another deep run into the playoffs, sitting second in the East at 37-14.
Nick Nurse’s side have picked up wins over the Thunder, Sixers, Spurs, Pistons and Bulls over their 12-game win streak. The Raptors’ 104.6 defensive rating ranks second in the league.
The Pacers have lost three in a row, including a 92-85 defeat at home against the Knicks. Indiana are still adjusting to bringing Victor Oladipo back in the fold, who, as expected, has struggled shooting the ball. The star guard (rest) is questionable for this one.
Indiana are fifth in the East with a 31-20 record.
These two teams played off in Toronto on Thursday, with the Raptors coming from eight points down in the final two minutes to win 119-118.Indiana won this matchup back in December.
Tip: Toronto to win @ $1.85.
Memphis Grizzlies at Philadelphia 76ers
The Grizzlies and Sixers clash in Philadelphia in an exciting inter conference matchup.
Memphis continue to turn heads this season, sitting in the West’s eighth seed at 26-25 and showing no signs of dropping out. They have won six of their last seven, including two in a row.
The Griz were busy at the trade deadline, acquiring Dion Waiters, Justice Winslow and Gorgui Dieng. Waiters is likely to be waived, Winslow (back) is injured and Dieng is may not even be in the rotation.
The Sixers just can’t gain momentum this season, having dropped their last three. They are locked with the Pacers at 31-20 to occupy the East’s sixth seed. Brett Brown’s team are a force at home though where they boast a 22-2 record.
Philly also made moves at the trade deadline, getting Glenn Robinson and Alec Burks from Golden State to help bolster their bench and shooting and sending James Ennis to Orlando.
The Sixers will be coming off a trip from Milwaukee on Friday.
Tip: Philadelphia to win @ $1.32.
Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz (ESPN)
The Blazers and Jazz close out the ESPN double-header in Utah in a division rival battle.
Portland have been in much better form of late behind the dominance of Damian Lillard, who has averaged an insane 42.2 points, 6.5 threes, 5.8 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game over the last two weeks while shooting 53% from the field and 90% from the line.
Lillard finally cooled off in Denver with a 21-point performance on 34% shooting from the field as the Blazers had their four-game win streak snapped.
The Blazers look set to make a charge for the eighth seed in the second half of the season, sitting ninth at 23-28. They will be coming off a home clash against San Antonio on Thursday.
The Jazz have lost four in a row, somehow falling at home on Thursday to a seven-man Nuggets rotation that were on a back-to-back. This team has really struggled to incorporate Mike Conley into their rotation and will need to figure it out if they are serious about being Western contenders.
They are currently fifth in the West at 32-18.
These teams faced off in Portland on Sunday with the Blazers getting the 124-107 win. The Jazz won their earlier battle in Utah in December.
Tip: Utah to win @ $1.27.
